2 Corinthians 2:12-17

2 Corinthians 2:12–17 KJV (WS)

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Introduction

Have you ever known someone who just seemed to have everything going there way?

They were just winning at life.

Isn’t it easy to assume that this person must be happy and fulfilled?

Sometimes this can be true in church life as well.

You may see someone at church who just seems to have it all together.

Their marriage, their kids, their ministry, it’s just all picture perfect.

What you may not see in both situations is what goes on when you aren’t around.

It is easy to think someone has it all together when we are operating on limited information.

We really don’t have that much information to go off when it comes to our biblical heroes.

We only get a few lines of text for some of them.

It would be easy for us to forget that they are all people just like us.

In our passage today, Paul opens up about one of his struggles and how he dealt with it.

This passage came along at the perfect time for me.

I hope as we study it together it will be a help to you too.

Paul received an open door in Troas.

He was doing what he always did.

He came to the city to preach the Gospel of Christ.

Paul always tried to keep his mission in focus.

The world is filled with people that are lost in their sins.

Paul stayed on the lookout for open doors for witnessing.

God granted him one in Troas.

There isn’t much that we know about Paul’s time in Troas.

He was in Troas when he received the Macedonian call.

He visited there again but he only stayed for 7 days.

From what we see in this passage, it looks like Paul’s trip to Troas was highly productive.

You would think that this would lead to a deep sense of fulfilment and joy.

From an outsider’s perspective, it wouldn’t seem like Paul had anything to be upset about.

Things are not quite what they seem though.

Paul says that despite his ministerial success, he had no rest in his spirit.

That means his spirit was not at ease.

He had no ability to relax.

There was no relief from the stress that Paul felt.

Why couldn’t Paul have any rest?

He had an open door.

He was experiencing success in his ministry.

Paul says his unease is due to the fact that he was unable to meet up with Titus in Troas.

He was waiting on Titus to meet him there with news of the Corinthians.

The Corinthians are notorious for their infighting and worldliness.

Paul had written them a letter and was waiting for Titus to come back with their response.

The slowness of communication in their day is not something any of us can fully comprehend.

Even those of you that lived a good portion of your life without computers and cell phones.

Paul is being very transparent with his readers in recalling this.

When Paul didn’t hear from Titus while he was in Troas, it stirred him up so badly that he was unable to rest in the open door that God had granted him there.

Paul was severely distracted by the lack of news from Corinth.

So much so that it affected his ministry in Troas.

As his custom was, Paul left the city and headed on.

HIs stay in Troas was characterized by an open door and disappointment over a lack of news from Titus.

Which one outweighed the other?

As time passed, distance brought clarity.

What we read in our passage this morning is an example of Paul looking back on his time in Troas.

He now has a better perspective.

He can more clearly evaluate not only his time in Troas but also his relationship with the Corinthians that was causing him so much anxiety.

In both cases, Paul looks back now and reports that for both situations, he gives thanks to God.

It would make sense to thank God for opening a door of ministry.

Paul seems to have in his mind that God deserves thanks or every situation.

Even the situation with Titus that caused him to suffer a lack of peace.

How could he say this?

Because Paul had learned that God always causes us to triumph.

God’s ability to give us the victory is not dependent upon life’s circumstances.

It’s important to remember the context of this victory.

This is not a reference to like a sports victory or even a military victory.

This is specifically related to the two activities that Paul was engaged in, and which we should all be engaged in.

Evangelizing the lost.

Strengthening the church.

When we are engaged in these two efforts, God can always give us the victory.

Paul explains this more in the following verses.

Paul uses the illustration of smells.

A Christian that endeavors to evangelize the lost and strengthen the church is like a person wearing really nice cologne or perfume.

What does this kind of believer smell like?

They smell like God’s knowledge.

Paul uses the phrase “knowledge of God” several times in his writings.

Romans 11:33 “33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Sounds like we should pray for an open door to share the knowledge of God with others.

Paul says that something incredible happens when we promote the knowledge of God.

The knowledge of God will lead people to salvation.

The knowledge of God will strengthen the church.

When we are engaged in these activities, we are a sweet smelling savour unto God.

God’s opinion of what we smell like is the most important opinion that matters.

His opinion is independent of all others.

We can smell good to God whether we are interacting with believers or unbelievers.

If we have his approval, then what more could we want?

Unfortunately, too many Christians care a lot about how others think they smell.

Not everyone agrees on whether or not some smells are good or bad.

For Example:

Cilantro – Some people love its fresh, citrusy smell, while others think it smells (and tastes) like soap.

Gasoline – Some enjoy the sharp, chemical scent at the pump, while others find it overwhelming.

Bleach/Chlorine – Reminds some of cleanliness and swimming pools but gives others a headache.

Vanilla – Many love its sweet, warm scent, while others think it’s too artificial or cloying.

Fresh-cut grass – Pleasantly nostalgic for some, but can smell too strong or like allergies for others.

Play-Doh – Some associate it with childhood fun; others find it odd or unpleasantly synthetic.

Coffee – Most love the roasted aroma, but a few find it burnt or too strong.

New car smell – Some love the clean, synthetic scent, while others think it’s chemical and nauseating.

Coconut – Some love its tropical vibe, others say it smells too artificial or like sunscreen.

Durian – The king of fruits in Southeast Asia smells delicious to fans but is compared to rotten onions or garbage by haters.

Vicks VapoRub – Comforting and minty for some, overpowering and medicinal for others.

The same is true for a Christians witness.

To the dead, our scent, if we carry with us the knowledge of God, is reprehensible.

They are repulsed by our testimony because to them it smells like death.

Scent is a highly associated sense.

We connect senses with memories and places.

The lost are reminded of their accountability and mortality when you are an active Christian witness around them.

They don’t like it.

Their opinion of your smell does not effect God’s opinion.

To the saved, our scent should be lovely.

They should be drawn to it because they know that the knowledge of God leads to life.

Their opinion should be based on their acceptance of the good news of salvation.

They have been born again by the blood of Jesus.

Your witness should be an encouragement and a strength to them.

It’s like aromatherapy for the soul.

Sometimes, this does not seem to be the case.

In Troas, Paul was evangelizing and waiting for word on the strength of the church at Corinth.

He knows that God finds Paul’s ministry to be a sweet smell.

It seemed though, that the lost of Troas were drawn to him.

While at the same, the saved of Corinth were repelled by him.

He remembers struggling with whether or not people would respond to his ministry.

He remembers the lack of peace he experienced while he waited for Titus.

He asks, “Who is sufficient for these things?”

Who can handle the acceptance by some and the rejection by others.

He protests that he and his partners in ministry do not preach a corruption of the word of God.

He stresses that they are sincerely preaching Christ in the sight of God.

What is a sincere witness for Christ to do with this?

We thank God who causes us to triumph over the baffling rejection and acceptance of men.

We thank God who appreciates our scent regardless of man’s opinion of us.

When we carry his scent to saved and the lost, we can do what Paul struggled to do in the moment.

We can have rest in our spirit.

Conclusion

Have you ever been through what Paul went through?

Have you ever been in a place where you were clearly seeing God’s power at work in one are of your service.

But then, in another area of service you felt like you were completely ineffective?

You are not alone.

You can have rest in your soul.

If you can say with Paul that you are sincerely serving God.

I you examine God’s word and you see that you are living faithfully to scripture.

Then you can be confident that your savour is sweet to the Lord.

Men, saved or lost, may not appreciate or praise you for your testimony and service.

But, if we are evangelizing the lost and strengthening the church, then God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

We, I, can rest in that knowledge.