How do you smell today?
Notes
Transcript
Realtors tell us that an empty house is difficult to sell. Regardless of its physical beauty, a home "shows" better when it is furnished. Sellers are advised to have the home cleaned, have a fire going in the fireplace, turn on lamps, have soft music playing in the background, and place fresh flowers on tables and cabinets.
The aura and smells that are presented to the customer are important. In major shopping malls the smells of baked cookies are sometimes injected into the ventilation system to lure customers toward the food court. (Warlick n.d.)
Paul wrote in verse 2 of chapter 5
2 Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God.
Have you ever given any thought to how you smell? We put stuff on to cover up our natural body odors. We use deodorants and body sprays all in an effort to not smell bad.
No some people get carried away with the body sprays, colognes and perfumes. Sometimes just basic hygiene is what is needed because no amount of body spray, cologne, or perfume is going to cover up stink.
I’ve known a number of people over the years who hadn’t learned the joy of good old soap and water. Our Matt had some friends when he was a young teenager that were often at our house. I could tell the moment that I walked in the door that they were there. I didn’t have to see them, I could smell that they were there. It was a combination of stale cigarette smoke, dead feet, and rotten onions. They had an odor, and it wasn’t pleasant.
Paul was talking about Jesus and he wrote
Ephesians 5:2 (CEB)
He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God.
In many of what we call High Churches or the smells and bells churches, they burn incense. Incense can smell good, but if to much is used it can be overwhelming especially if you have breathing problems.
Father William Saunders, a priest in the Roman Catholic Church wrote:
“The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification. For example, in the Eastern Rites at the beginning of Mass, the altar and sanctuary area were incensed while Psalm 50, ... was chanted invoking the mercy of God. The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven: the Psalmist prays
2 Let my prayer stand before you like incense; let my uplifted hands be like the evening offering.
Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven: The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship as follows: "Another angel came in holding a censer of gold. He took his place at the altar of incense and was given large amounts of incense to deposit on the altar of gold in front of the throne, together with the prayers of all God's holy ones. From the angel's hand, the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of God's people."” (Saunders, n.d.)
With a reminder of Jesus, Paul wrote
1 Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children.
We read that and think that it’s totally impossible. Imitate God! How can we do that? God is God, after all, He’s holy, he’s perfect and Paul tells us to imitate Him, to be like God. But doesn’t God tell us elsewhere to be like Him?
Peter writes in his first letter said this:
15 you must be holy in every aspect of your lives, just as the one who called you is holy.
Isn’t the call to be Christ Like?
It is, to be a Christian is to be like Jesus. To be a disciple is to be like Him. The call to be Christlike is a call to live differently than everyone in the world.
Paul points out a number of things in the passage this morning that should reflect the difference that Jesus has made in the life of a Christian. This listing that Paul makes is not an end-all list, that if we do or don’t do everything he writes about here that we have it made, but they are some examples.
Paul has been writing up to this point about the church being united and reminding us that we need each other and that we are all a part of the body of Christ. So he writes that because of that connection that we have to each other through Jesus that we must put off falsehood and speak truthfully. I really like how this verse is rendered in the Message, it says:
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Lying I think is one of the first sins that children learn. Look at a toddler caught with his hand in the cookie jar and there are cookie crumbs smeared around his mouth and ask him if he ate a cookie and he’ll lie and tell you no.
Look at the Garden of Eden, didn’t Satan lie to Adam and Eve about the fruit? Lying has been going on since the beginning. We make excuses and say it’s not really a lie. We might go as far as saying it’s just a little white lie. The Message said “no more pretense”. What does that mean? It means:
a claim made or implied especially : one not supported by fact (Definition of PRETENSE, n.d.)
People in the church are really good at making a pretense, presenting something in such a way as it appears to be true when it’s not. I lovingly say this, a lie is a lie, there are no black lies and white lies. There are no little lies or big lies. A lie is a lie and lying is a sin. Sin breaks your relationship with God. Paul says stop it.
Gossip falls right alongside lying. There might be a hint of truth in what is talked about but most gossip is unfounded and usually a lie about the person being talked about. Don’t do it, it is a sin. This isn’t just a minor issue, it is a huge issue. Listen to what Paul wrote in Romans 1
28 Since they didn’t think it was worthwhile to acknowledge God, God abandoned them to a defective mind to do inappropriate things.
29 So they were filled with all injustice, wicked behavior, greed, and evil behavior. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deception, and malice. They are gossips,
30 they slander people, and they hate God. They are rude and proud, and they brag. They invent ways to be evil, and they are disobedient to their parents.
31 They are without understanding, disloyal, without affection, and without mercy.
32 Though they know God’s decision that those who persist in such practices deserve death, they not only keep doing these things but also approve others who practice them.
Gossipers are on the same level as murders. Liars and gossipers, if they continue in that lifestyle will find themselves in the same place as murderers and God haters and it won’t be heaven!
Please, don’t give a gossiper the time of day. If they want to gossip, turn around and walk away from them.
Paul says:
25 Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body.
Paul says “In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.”
Paul moves on to anger. It’s ok to get angry. It’s what you do with anger that can cause the problem. Paul said:
26 Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger.
27 Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil.
Paul is talking about using our anger as fuel for revenge, getting even if someone who hurt us. Maybe someone lied to us or gossiped about us. If we take revenge and try to settle the score we’re no better than that person.
He says not to go to bed angry. Why? Because the anger just festers and starts boiling and we keep going trying to figure out who to get even.
What happens when we do that? Paul says we provide an opportunity for the Devil.
An opportunity for what?
That goes back to what Paul said about the fight that we are involved with is not flesh and blood. When we allow anger to fester in our lives we are giving Satan an opportunity to gain a foothold in our lives and defeat us.
It’s like giving an open invitation to allow Satan access to our lives. He’ll gladly come and cheer us on in our anger. Don’t allow that. Be angry, tell God your angry but then turn the situation over to God. God says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”
Did Jesus retaliate in vengeance when he was whipped and beaten and finally nailed to the cross? If Jesus could endure that, then we can as Christians, as Christlike Disciples, we can endure and allow God to take care of that situation. It doesn’t mean that we become doormats for people. It doesn’t mean that we don’t confront people when the gossip and lie about us. It does mean that we don’t retaliate, we don’t seek revenge because that would be sinful. It means that we allow God to handle it.
Paul next talks about stealing. He writes:
28 Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.
This issue seems pretty obvious. No stealing, it’s wrong, it’s a sin. One thing that we see here in the U.S. is the individuals and even businesses that become dependent on the government to support them. I absolutely believe that the government should step in and help those that have no way to help themselves. I believe that it is appropriate for the government to give people a hand up not just a handout.
I read the other day that there is a movement to have a guaranteed minimum income of $2,000 per month. I’m not sure where they think that money is going to come from. There are lots of jobs out there.
However, there is a mentality in our culture today and even among church people is the idea of entitlement. The idea that I deserve the government or the church to take care of me. I think Paul would address that here because it becomes a form of stealing. Paul says “get an honest job”. Not just to support yourself but to help others who can’t work.
The next issue that Paul addresses is one that concerns me greatly. Our culture has become very course in what we hear in everyday conversations and on TV. Even people in the church, even people who claim to live a holy life say things that are questionable, that are course and gross. Paul writes:
29 Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.
Music, talk radio, television, the internet is just saturated with foul and dirty language. Words that some years ago would have offended us no longer do. People say things today that doesn’t even cause them to bat an eye. Preachers and religious teachers are heard saying things that are on the edge because they want to look cool and relevant.
Paul comes along and he tells us to watch the way we talk. The things we say can either build up others or they can tear others down. We all grew up with the saying “sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me.”
That really is a lie. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of name calling and hurtful words you know that names can hurt as much or more than sticks and stones.
I’ve heard good Christian layman and pastors tell what we politely call “off-color” jokes or make comments that include what we call swear words. Words that use to get your mouth washed out with soap.
Paul says let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. There is no room in the life of a Christian for foul or dirty words. Using foul language or dirty words has no place in the life of holiness.
Paul could have stopped there and just told us what not to do, but he continues and he says “Say what is helpful.”
We as Christians, as holiness people should be known how we help others. Our words can either tear someone down or lift them up, helping them. We need to be helping others to come to know Jesus as their own savior. Helping them to see the great life that God is calling us to.
Paul says that each word we speak is a gift. Have you ever thought about that before? Each word you speak is a gift.
Some people’s words, even some Christian people’s words are more like bombs than gifts. Have you ever talked with a person who you thought you were trying to encourage or cheer up but they encouraged you or cheered you? Their words were a gift to you. Choose your words wisely, let them be a gift to others to encourage and to build up.
Paul tells us to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. In the message it says:
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
To grieve God is to offend Him, to do things that we’ve been warned not to do. Did any of your kids ever do something that you told them not to do? How did you feel about that? I know when my kids did things that I warned them about, it grieved me, it broke my heart. Paul here is calling us to live lives of obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Paul wraps up his thoughts in this chapter with these words:
31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil.
32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.
He says to put aside. There is no such thing as a little sin, a little lie, a little gossip in the life of a Christian. Sin is sin, period and it does break your relationship with God. Paul says to make a clean break from it, a clean break from cutting words that tear others down, backbiting and profane talk. Make a clean break from it.
Be gentle with each other, be sensitive to their needs. Most importantly he says to forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Wow, just stop and think about that for a moment. Forgive others just as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
If you look at all of the things that Paul has said in this section of scripture they start with our attitudes. God is looking for a change on the inside. A true external change comes from a deep internal change. We can’t become legalistic in our actions because it really gets us nowhere. But when the Holy Spirit changes us on the inside it will be reflected by the things we say and do.
Paul writes in verses 1 and 2 of Chapter 5 these words
1 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.
2 Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Paul calls on us to imitate God. As the Message says “watch what God does and then you do it”. Imitating God begins with love. For God so loved the world that He gave. God loves us.
How do we learn to love like God? We learn by spending time with Him. I really feel sorry for you if they only time that you spend with God is for an hour on Sunday morning. If that is all the time that you take during the week to spend with God then you are missing out on so much more. You definitely are to be pitied.
Paul says to “Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant.” Was dying on a cross cautious? Was laying aside his glory of heaven and coming to us cautious? No, it was extravagant. Look at how Jesus loved us and follow His example.
“He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.” Paul wrote to the Philippians these words:
5 Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:
6 Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
7 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names,
10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Paul says “Love like that”.
Is your life a sweet smelling offering to God?
Definition of PRETENSE. (n.d.). Www.merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretense
Warlick, H. (n.d.). Ephesians 4:17--5:21 - Sweet-Smelling Fragrance. Sermons.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021, from https://sermons.com/sermon/sweet-smelling-fragrance/1349447