The primary reason for the creation of man is to diffuse an aroma that should be pleasing to God. 2 Corinthians 2:15 says. “For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” One thing that stands out from this Scripture is that there is a fragrance that should ascend from us unto God. Before I begin I would like to give an insight into a concept that is very important to the subject of my discuss. The concept is ‘Perfume or fragrance’ as captured in the title of this article. So, what is a perfume? A perfume is a fragrant liquid typically made from essential oils extracted from flowers and spices, used to give a pleasant aroma.

There is something very fundamental and it stands so strong from this definition. What makes a perfume give a sweet smelling aroma can simply be traced to the extracts and the right combination of those extracts; and the aim is to give a pleasant smell. Now, God said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man.” Let us make a product, let us make a being like us; in our image, according to our likeness let them have dominion. So, dominion comes for man when he is made in the image and likeness of God. So, being made in the image and likeness of God is for a function, it's for a purpose. What was the primary purpose of the creation of man? To offer worship by diffusing the fragrance of God’s presence locked up within him. This is the reason why Jesus said; those who worship Him must worship in truth and in Spirit. Man is basically Spirit and it is the spiritual connection of man to God that helps the man diffuse the fragrance of His presence. I implore you to read patiently, I’m trying to build a background into what I am inspired to share.

Let me explain further with this analogy. Every perfume is tightly put into a container, into a vessel, just as the Holy Spirit can indwell a man, and as long as that perfume is in a container even though it has the capacity and power to diffuse a pleasant aroma if you don’t spray it no matter how strong or pleasant it is, the effect would not be felt as much as it’s supposed to be. So, also is the Holy Spirit, it could be in a man but as long as it is not deployed, its aroma or presence would not be felt.  So, the bottle is the container while the content is the perfume. As much as the container is relevant, beautiful and nicely shaped, what people are more interested in is the aroma.

And once the fragrance in the container is finished, the container is thrown away or becomes irrelevant. Man without the Holy Spirit lacks value. What am I trying to explain? What brings the aroma is not outside, what produces aroma is inside. Just as men could also have interest on what is outside God looks at what is inside, that is what draws His attention, interest and investment. That was why God told prophet Samuel; men look at the outward appearance but I God look at the heart. What makes you valuable as a man is not outside, not shape nor color of skin, it is what you are on the inside. See a relative example the Holy Spirit gave me; He said; the Holy Bible says in Hebrews 11 verse 4, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice.” The sacrifice that God saw as excellent, pleasing and soothing was not because a spotless animal was used or because it was fat or because it was the first born of His flock, what makes an aroma soothing and pleasant to God is the faith factor. The faith Abel had was like the perfume locked up in his heart.

Look at what He went further to draw my attention to in Genesis 8 verse 21; It says; The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma. This was after the sacrifice, but what happened before the sacrifice? The Bible says; Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. Then two things were pointed out to me; the first is that the animals were clean. Talking about holiness and purity of heart, talking about clean hands and good conscience. But then there was a faith factor hidden in it.

He made me realized that God destroyed every other animal on earth through the flood except the selected ones that went into the ark. God instructed Noah in Genesis 7:2 to Take with him seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, ³ and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Note that the aim of taking them into the ark was to preserve and ensure continuity i.e. to multiply throughout the earth.

Then He said It takes faith to offer in scarcity. What this also means is that it takes faith to give all that you have. The resources were limited and what was available was offered up, he didn’t think about which other ones would continue to multiply on the earth. I am sure you would be saying to yourself but God instructed him to take seven pairs; so if he offers some out of it others would be remaining, but also remember that not all the animals were seven pairs, and not all the animals were clean, some were one pair, and some were unclean. Bible says he took some of the clean ones and offered sacrifice, we don’t know how much or how few they are but God perceived a soothing aroma. It was a matter of the heart, he had all the excuses in the world, but that notwithstanding He offered. What God perceived was the state of the heart, the faith not the choking smell from the smoke. So, the heart of a man is the container or vessel and the content of that heart is primarily faith and that is what brings a soothing aroma.

The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God, it is impossible to offer an excellent sacrifice; those who come to Him must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.  So, in order to become a man that diffuses Gods aroma, you must become a man whose heart is full of faith.  

Another point I want us to consider as I conclude with the background I am trying to build. The sweetest fragrance being considered in our offerings unto God is that we are conscious of His will. The will of God is more like a posture and a disposition. No one draws the attention of God outside of His will. Hebrews 10:5-7 says; “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. ⁷Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’” fragrance is not felt when you are ignorant of the knowledge of His will.

Haven had this background, we will make attempt to answer the question which is the focus of this article; how can I become a man, a minister that diffuses His fragrance? Firstly, faith is important, and the willingness to do His will is also important. The Scripture says in Ephesians 5:2; “And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. So, love is also important.

In order that you become one who diffuses a sweet smelling aroma unto God, you must be love personified, this is the foundation and basis for all that should be done in the kingdom. The reason why you have faith, and willing to do His will should be premised on love.  The Bible says in John 3:16; “For God so loved the world.” We know that God is love and the foundation for all of His gifts and expressions to mankind is on the basis of love. And if you are without love you are not of God. This means that in order to diffuse that sweet smelling aroma love must become the very essence of your being. It must be a visible fruit of the Spirit working and springing from within you. The manner with which Christ gave Himself up that pleased God was because He loved. Any sacrifice without love means nothing to God. Love is the character of God that defines or measure the status of your discipleship walk with Christ. So, haven walked in faith, haven walked in His will, haven become a love being; what are the criteria or requirements to becoming a minister that diffuses the fragrance of God’s word? 

#. The word must either appear or the word must come to the minister. The reason is because what you see paints a more vivid picture than what is not seen. What is seen is more tangible and substantial that that which is not seen. If the word does not appear to you, what you see is not what is seen, but what is seen is real only when it is seen through the eyes of faith. When you speak from this point it will be evident that you have seen something. So therefore, passion and zeal flows along this line. Your religious title not withstanding, the word will never carry power if it has never appeared to you. The secret to becoming a minster that diffuse the fragrance of God’s word is that you must see what the Lord says to you even as much as you hear, you must see it. This means that whatever He commands you, so shall you say and do, whatever word He puts in your mouth, shall you declare unto the people. Micaiah said, in 1 Kings 22:7; “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.” This is the position every minister must take. To speak as the Lord has commanded. It is not a must that your words be like every other person, what if the Lord is saying something different? You must speak as instructed, as commanded, as seen!

#. The second point to note is that you must be equipped with the word, you must be thoroughly furnished for every good work. Bible says be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed rightly diving the word of truth. And while this truth is being divided, your words must be seasoned with grace, you must speak the truth in love, not in arrogance, not in pride, not a show of strength in the flesh but the release of oneself to be flown through by the Holy Spirit. This is what birth powerful utterances.

#. You must own the word; until the word is heard twice by the minister even though it is spoken once by God, it does not become or translate to power when it alights on the people. Owning the word talks about two things; number one; it talks about speaking from a depth of conviction and about what you are persuaded about. 1 John 1:1 says; That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

Number two; it talks about having the word of eternal life. There is a difference knowing the word and having the word. Jesus didn’t just know the word, He has the word, as a matter of fact He is the word. See what Peter said to Jesus; to whom shall we go? You have the word of eternal life. To diffuse the fragrance of God’s word is to have the word and having the word is to be full of the knowledge of the word and becoming one with that word in reality and experience. When you own the word, when the word seats deep in your spirit it becomes part of you, you literally breath, live and move around with it. And it will take you nothing to give that word. So, if you will be a minister that diffuses the fragrance of the word of God, you must own the word in this two ways.

#. Another important point to consider is that you require a mouth and a loose tongue. Jesus said I will give you a mouth and a wisdom which your adversary can neither resist nor gainsay. A major part of your expression in ministry require a mouth, Jesus saw it as a necessity so He said I will give you a mouth. When Isaiah had encounter with God the Bible says His mouth was touched with a coal of fire. If a mouth is not given to you, what you say will make no impact. Moses complained about his inadequacy when God was to commit a mandate to him. He simply saw that his mouth is his limitation, He said for I am slow of speech and of tongue. And a mouth piece was allocated to him in the person of Aaron. But we could see later in the ministry of Moses that He needed nobody before he could judge or address the nation of Israel. If treasures are locked up inside of you, if God is on your inside, it will take a mouth to declare, or express God in you. The last point I would like to talk about is;  

#. Discernment; a minister that can discern is a minister that does not judge with the hearing of His ears nor by the seeing of His eyes. This means that there is an activeness in the Spirit when the word is going on or when he is ministering. And at that point the Holy Spirit can begin to speak; you must be sensitive enough to trap those signals. Discernment possessing the ability or capacity to distinguish and this ability is not in the flesh. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14.) So, a minister in the flesh will find it difficult to diffuse the fragrance of God’s word.  Jesus said to Peter, flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father in heaven. So, discernment is not by flesh and blood it is a revelation brought about by the Spirit of God.

So in conclusion; towards becoming a minister that diffusing the fragrance of His word, is about sacrifice, it talks sacrifice to love, it takes sacrifice to walk in His will, it takes sacrifice to have faith. What does this sacrifice entails? Apostle Paul said I am crucified with Christ never the less I live; at another point he said I bear in my body the marks of Christ. A man identified with Christ, a minister that is crucified with Christ is a minister who has fulfilled the requirements of sacrifice. Such a minister becomes the fragrance. These are the dynamics we must understand in order to become such a minister.

 

 

 

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Apeh Francis Abah!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!