The Aroma of Christ

        

Robert Lewis Dabney (1820-1898) was one of the most influential leaders of the southern Presbyterian Church. He told a story of a worldly attorney who abhorred Christianity and wanted nothing to do with it. After years of ungodly living and scorning of Christians, he grew old and went to live with his sister who was a Christian. Her son was a pastor and she also had a daughter living with her.

The pastor had an opportunity to engage the old man in conversation about Christ and even recommend some books for him to read. Sometime later, his health deteriorated and the old attorney requested to confess his faith in Christ publicly. The nephew was eager to get the full story and wondered if their conversations had been instrumental in turning the callused man's heart to Christ.

But as the story unfolded he discovered that it was not his words or even the books that he recommended that changed the attorney’s attitude towards Christianity. It was the godly life of the pastor's sister that he observed every day. The old man saw her godliness and radiance as a Christian in every situation. He desired to have that same kind of relationship to Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:42-47 describes the community life of the early Church. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42)   The Church in Acts was a praying church. They followed the example of their master. Jesus had modeled for them the kind of habits of life they needed. He demonstrated prayer as an integral part of his life.

One day after Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). That is the only thing that the disciples asked to be taught by him.  They did not ask to be taught to preach or to perform miracles. They noticed the importance and priority prayer had in Jesus life. They also took note that his prayer life was the source of His power. What did the disciples observe that made them conclude this.

You wake up in the morning only to find Jesus has been awake for hours praying. You walk into a town with Him and you see Him heal all of the sick and demon possessed without fail (Matt 4:23-24). You see him perform amazing miracles. You hear Him teach with profound wisdom that confounds the Scribes. You notice he spends some nights out there praying. After seeing all of this, the only logical conclusion is that His prayer life obviously has a lot to do with his success in ministry.

Prayer life was a central part of Jesus ministry. Before appointing the twelve apostles he spent the whole night on the mountain praying (Luke 6: 12-13). When His fame spread everywhere and “the whole city gathered together at the door” ; Jesus got up very early in the morning, while it was still dark and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:28-35).

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16). When he heard that his forerunner John the Baptist was killed, “he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place”. Soon after, he feed five thousand people who followed him there.  Later he made the disciples leave and dismissed the crowd. He went up on a mountainside alone to pray. Shortly before dawn he went to the disciples, walking on the lake (Matt.14:10, 13 22-25).

The disciples saw him pray at his baptism (Luke 3:21). They saw him pray for children (Matthew 19:13), and drive out demons (Mark 9:29). He prayed for the sick. John 17 is his prayer for his disciples, in their hearing. He said to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32). They saw him pray over and over in the garden before his arrest (Matthew 26:36, 39, 42, 44). They heard him pray for forgiveness of those who were killing him and His last words were a prayer (Luke 23:34,46).

Jesus not only modeled prayer, but instructed the disciples to pray. He gave them this promise “if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in  prayer " (Matt. 21:22). He said "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation (Mark 14:38); Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen and that you may be able to stand before the son of man (Luke 21:36). 

He said “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.” (Matt 24:20). Pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44). Pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:28). Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field (Matt.9:38). Pray without show and without posturing (Matt 6:5–7; Luke 20:47). He told them a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1-8).

Jesus often prayed alone in quiet places to focus on his relationship with his Father. He chose to give his first and best moments to seeking his Father’s face. His habits were not demonstrations of will and sheer discipline. His prayers were not ends in themselves but means. In these means he pursued the end which was enjoying his Father’s presence. Jesus wants prayer to be part of his followers’ everyday life.

Prayer should not be something they do only when they have a pressing need or are in a particular location. Prayer should be as natural as breathing and as vital as eating. A lifestyle reflects those things that are important to a person. Prayer becomes a lifestyle when we realise we can’t survive without Him (Acts 17:28; John 15:4, John 10:28-30, Phil. 4:13). Prayer is an indispensable part of a Christian’s life.

We can call on God in prayer anytime and anywhere. We can pray while driving, as we walk down the streets, while taking a shower or cooking or waiting in queues. When we are in the midst of people, we can be quietly communicating with God in our heart. When an activity becomes a habit that has become part of our life, such a habit is hard to break. Being able to tune to God anytime anywhere makes prayer without ceasing doable (1 Thess.5:17)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer… present your requests to God. (Phil. 4:6). Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests… always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people (Eph 6:18). God says “call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jer.33:3). The psalmist says “because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Ps.116:2).

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles (Acts 2:43). The early Church was not only born in the power of the Spirit, the Spirit’s power was part of its ongoing experience. The life of this first fellowship was so genuine and spiritually powerful that everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. People were not awed by the Church building or programs, but by the supernatural character of its life.

The apostles performed many wonders and signs. Jesus had promised “ very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”  (John 14:12). The signs pointed observers toward the divine source of the miracle. For example, when Peter healed Aeneas "all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord ( Acts 9:32-35) 

This Church was a tight-knit community of dedicated followers of Christ. The community was characterized by mutual service, caring for each other and sharing life in  unity. No one was in need because they cared for each other. These new believers were not begrudgingly giving up their possessions nor sharing their meals with others. There was a constant mood of celebration in all that they did.

They were continually filled with gladness. Gladness is a feeling characterized by contentment and joy. Their gladness naturally led to praising God. There was something unique and beautiful about this group of people. Unbelievers saw and admired the changes salvation made to the lives of the believers and they wanted to have it too. God used the unity, love and joy of the believers to provoke unbelievers to seek a relationship with Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Paul says “thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him; For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?”

Paul calls Christians “the aroma of Christ”, spreading “the fragrance of the knowledge of him” everywhere. Both "fragrance" and "aroma" refer to a pleasant smell. However "fragrance" is typically used for artificial scent like that of perfume, while "aroma" is usually associated with the natural smell. Christians naturally smell like Christ. Their actions and words make the knowledge of Christ fragrant.

Christians should “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things”(Titus 2:10). Every aspect of their lives: values, actions and attitudes should clearly be Christ-like. The early Church Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit and they naturally produced the aromatic Fruit of the Spirit which is” love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-26). Unfortunately some Christians are not aromatic. Paul accused the Romans “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Rom. 2:24).

Acts 2:47 says “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. That is the only way anyone can be added to the Church. The Holy Spirit worked salvation in the souls who had seen signs, winsome grace-filled disciples and heard clear presentations of the good news. The Lord did not add them to the church without saving them, nor did he save them without adding them to the Church. The Church continuously grew numerically (Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14 ; Acts 6:1) .

True evangelism flows from the life of a healthy church. Acts 2:42-47 describes the community life of the early  Christians. Their worship was scripture based and infused with the Holy Spirit; even unbelievers were amazed by it. They kept in touch with God and Jesus their savior all the time. The church had the good will of all the people ; it was respected and esteemed. The early church represents the best of what God's people are capable of in the power of the Holy Spirit.