Dear Ron,
“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” 2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV).
I am so thankful for the enabling power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that always causes us to triumph in Him, bringing a procession of victories in our lives!
As we yield our lives to the Lord, in each one, He is well able to perfect that which He has begun (Philippians 1:6). Though He is still working in us, there is a testimony as we continue to yield to the Lord and draw on His strength. As one translation says, “Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume” 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT).
Acts 1:8 tells us that after the Holy Ghost has come upon us, we are empowered to be or to become a witness unto Him everywhere we go! What a calling! To live a life that reflects Christ, as His presence is made known to others through us.
Notice our primary call is to become a witness “unto Him.” Our lives are to become as “a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God” 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT). This fragrance will be noticeable to others, becoming a witness “unto them,” but first and foremost is our witness to the Lord. Our witness to others is to be the byproduct of a life lived pleasing to the Lord.
As His presence is made known through us, some will love that fragrance that comes from our lives, and some won’t like it at all. “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” 2 Corinthians 2:15 (AMP).
This fragrance comes through our union with Christ. “But thanks be to God, for He always leads me in His triumphal train, through union with Christ, and everywhere through me keeps spreading the perfume of the knowledge of Him” 2 Corinthians 2:14 (Williams Translation).
It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory!” Colossians 1:27. I am a living epistle, written by the Spirit of God, read by all men. From glory to glory, I am being changed that more of Him might be seen, and less of me (2 Corinthians 3:3, 18). John said, “He must increase, I must decrease.” Paul professed that he died daily; that Christ lived in him (John 3:30; 1 Corinthians 15:31; Galatians 2:20).
Hattie Hammond often said, “None of us are perfect yet. If we were, God would have taken us home!” God is not finished with us yet! He is still working in us. Paul said, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” Philippians 2:13.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10. Notice the word “should”! We don’t have to! We were created with free will. But if we are wise, we will walk in His plans and purposes, that there might come a transformation in our lives, where it is no longer our adamic nature, but Christ being seen in us – a sweet fragrance that pleases God and touches others.
There is a certain perfume I have worn for years. Its fragrance is gentle, yet I remember when I was teaching at the Bible school years ago, someone once saying, “I knew you had come this way because of the fragrance that lingered in the hall.”
What kind of fragrance does our life leave when we pass by? The fragrance of His presence? Let us practice His presence, living lives that are pleasing to Him, lives where He can flow through us to touch others.
In good times…in hard times…and everywhere we go! May our lives be marked by the presence of the Lord. May we be as a sweet fragrance, pleasing to God as we reflect Christ, that through us, He might be made known to others.
Our Website
On our website is teaching by Wade Taylor, truly a present word for those who have a desire to “follow on to know the Lord.” As a forerunner, truths my dad spoke bring a relevant word for today and also move beyond the present day into the day still before us. May his teachings be a source of spiritual edification and impartation to you, as you consider the words shared and allow them to be worked into your life experience. Also on our website, you will find links to messages by me under Nancy’s Corner and Messages to Hear.
Email List
If you are not on our email list, I encourage you to join! Most updates are now communicated through emails. To join, or, to update your email address, go to
www.wadetaylor.org. Toward the bottom of the home page, you will find a place to add your email address. Or, you can go to the Contact and Support page and add your email address there.
Blessing
Our prayer is that you increasingly prosper, both spiritually and in your life circumstances, beyond all that you have experienced in the past, and also, may you be blessed in life, in health, and in all that is before you.
Prayerfully yours,
Nancy Taylor Tate
PAROUSIA MINISTRIES
