WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.259 Okay, great to see you this morning folks. Please do get a Bible open in front of you. If you brought your own, brilliant. If you didn't, there's ones in a pew that you can grab. Don't feel any embarrassment by doing that. 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:26.699 If you need to turn to the contents page, that's absolutely fine as well. The book is 2 Corinthians. If you've got a phone, which I'm going to go and say that most of us do, you can use your phone to get this as well. We need God's word open in front of us. This is a brilliant passage this morning. 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:40.679 And maybe just to get us into it, can I go all Alan's sugar on you for a minute and tell you what contributed an estimated 2 billion pounds to the UK economy last year? Surprising. 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:51.519 The fragrance industry. 2 billion pounds. I think that tells you that we are a nation that cares how we smell. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:01:02.040 In fact, here's a little to demonstrate that. Be brave, okay? Put your hands up if you put on deodorant, aftershave or perfume this morning before you came out. 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:18.580 Okay, some of us went au naturel. That's absolutely fine. Honestly, not trying to go vanity police. Here's what I want to do. If you put your hand up, I want to let you know that you've got a head start on understanding the central idea of this passage. 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:26.379 Okay, the key word, if you want to latch on to a key word, verse 14 is the word aroma. 00:01:26.679 --> 00:01:32.439 So what we're thinking about today is how a Christian smells in the nostrils of the world. 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:40.500 Right? Key word aroma, key thing. This is how a Christian smells in the nostrils of the world. 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:46.060 Now, last week, if you remember, we took in one of the most wonderful verses of the Bible. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:51.140 And this letter to 2 Corinthians is just brilliant for so many of these. 00:01:51.739 --> 00:01:57.260 That all God's promises are yes in Christ Jesus. If you remember that, one of the most famous verses in the Bible. 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:04.980 Today, we're going to take in one of the most powerful and celebrated metaphors that you'll find anywhere in the New Testament. 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:09.719 One that gets us right to the heart of how people become Christians. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:12.539 And how God is at work today. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:14.580 And it's absolutely brilliant. 00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:18.000 And I hope today we leave with a dose of refreshing realism. 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:21.300 And we leave here with oodles of optimism. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:27.520 Because how does that video, even if I watch it, but I watched it about three times this week, watch it again just there. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:37.160 What, that vision of reaching the UK for Christ, of Scotland for Christ, of Edinburgh for Christ, of the people that you go to work every day for Christ. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:41.680 Of those who are in your lecture hall every day, reaching them for Christ. 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:48.300 What turns it from wishful thinking to something that we can have confidence in that God will work? 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.140 The answer is this passage. 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:57.399 And this all takes place in the context of Paul defending his ministry. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:01.159 Remember last week we thought about his travel plans, about how he changed his travel plans. 00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:04.500 Those two phrases that he used to underscore his integrity. 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:06.079 Verse 12 of chapter 1. 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:06.679 Look at it there. 00:03:08.119 --> 00:03:09.119 What did he say? 00:03:09.239 --> 00:03:11.879 We thought about how refreshing these two phrases were. 00:03:12.239 --> 00:03:13.739 Simplicity and godly sincerity. 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:15.079 That was his life. 00:03:16.299 --> 00:03:17.799 Integrity or holiness. 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:19.699 And godly sincerity. 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:20.679 That's what he was saying. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:22.639 It wasn't hiding anything from you. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:24.199 My life was authentic. 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:25.419 It was transparent. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:30.859 And you'll notice that word simplicity crops up again at verse 17. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:35.479 So it kind of bookends, I think, this idea that runs all the way through. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:44.120 And I found out this week that one of the words that was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in the last three years was deepfake. 00:03:45.239 --> 00:03:48.459 Which I just call technology plus lying, really. 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:59.500 And I don't know about you, but I lost count of how many times a fact-checking video popped up on my Facebook feed this week with the presidential election. 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:01.060 Right? 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:03.379 We're swimming in opinions. 00:04:04.580 --> 00:04:06.319 Really difficult to know who to trust. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:10.680 Paul was going all out to say, you can trust me, Corinthians. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:12.879 You can trust my message. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:13.860 You can trust my life. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:16.280 But it is really difficult to know who you can trust. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:20.500 And Paul mentions two more things here to show the Corinthians that he was genuine. 00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:28.300 If you look at verse 17 there, he's contrasting himself with the peddlers of God's word. 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:32.379 So those people who are speaking about Jesus, but their motives are all twisted. 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:33.100 They're all wrong. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:34.360 They're in it for money. 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:35.920 They're in it for fame. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:36.500 They're in it for recognition. 00:04:37.379 --> 00:04:38.720 Paul says, I'm not in it for any of that. 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:39.579 I'm in it for you. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:43.860 And so here's two more things that he mentions real quick. 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:52.960 Firstly, verses 5 to 11 of chapter 2, what proves that he was genuine is that he was willing to say the hard thing when others wouldn't. 00:04:54.280 --> 00:05:00.879 In our world of echo chambers, we like people who think like us, right? 00:05:00.960 --> 00:05:03.900 We like people who talk like us. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.780 Some of you, if you're certain vintage, remember that Fleetwood Mac song back in the day? 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:08.480 What was the chorus? 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:09.879 Tell me lies. 00:05:10.020 --> 00:05:11.920 Tell me sweet little lies. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.620 Telling people what they want to hear is easy. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:21.400 It's like handing out a pack of love hearts, isn't it? 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:22.439 Our kids love these things. 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:23.259 Remember those sweets? 00:05:24.640 --> 00:05:27.460 All yours, true love, be happy, you're the best. 00:05:27.580 --> 00:05:28.819 It's easy to do that. 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:30.200 People love you when you do that. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:35.240 But you tell people what they need to hear, it's way, way harder. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.700 How do you know that someone really loves you? 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:43.039 It's when they'll tell you the inconvenient truth. 00:05:43.659 --> 00:05:45.699 When they'll have a hard conversation with you. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:48.920 Not because it's what they want to do, but because they love you. 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:55.659 Everything from you've got something on your teeth to that relationship you're in. 00:05:56.620 --> 00:05:57.919 It just isn't good for you. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:01.879 Where's Paul learned this from? 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:05.120 I take it he's got it from Jesus. 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:07.580 I love Jesus. 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:14.220 One of my most favorite thing about Jesus is that truth and love are never separate when it comes to him. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.139 They're perfectly joined. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:20.899 I was reading the other day, the rich young ruler, you get in Mark chapter 10, he comes to Jesus and he asks, 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:23.219 what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:30.139 And Mark says, just before Jesus answers him, Mark says Jesus looked at him and loved him. 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:34.300 And said, sell all that you have and give to the poor. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:38.159 In other words, there's an idol in your heart that's robbing God of first place. 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:42.199 Do you see, love and truth always perfectly go together with Jesus. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.860 I think it's one of the things that makes him so magnetically attractive. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:49.360 That's what Paul did in Corinth. 00:06:49.539 --> 00:06:59.759 There was someone in this church who was clearly consistently and stubbornly behaving in a way that was incompatible with faith in Jesus. 00:07:00.419 --> 00:07:02.180 And we don't know exactly what that was. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:08.819 But whatever it was, I think you can guarantee that sparks flew when Paul challenged it. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:12.060 This person probably shouted expletives at Paul. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.180 Who are you to judge me? 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:18.240 But the majority of the church, they agreed with Paul. 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:20.779 And so this individual was asked to leave. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:23.579 They exited the church stage left. 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:28.539 But what Paul perceives has happened with the passing of time. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.379 Do you see in these verses, two things have happened. 00:07:30.919 --> 00:07:35.339 One thing, I think this, we should believe that this individual has repented. 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:44.539 So they've realized the error of their ways and they've turned back to God and to the church and are kind of facing in the right direction again. 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:45.699 That's the first thing. 00:07:46.039 --> 00:07:53.639 But the second thing is that bitterness and unforgiveness have gained a foothold in the hearts of those who have been hurt. 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:54.439 Do you see what's happened? 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:57.699 It's rotting their hearts. 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:03.219 And seeking to capitalize on all of it, verse 11, is the devil. 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:05.180 Paul says we're not unaware of his schemes. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:06.639 We're in a spiritual battle. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.180 The evil one is always on the prowl. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:14.060 The evil one would love nothing more than to cause fractions in our relationships. 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:16.439 And what does Paul want them to know? 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:23.500 If he was the one that was on the end of this verbal attack, he says, listen, I want you to know that I forgive them. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:26.399 I forgive them. 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:28.680 I'm not holding a grudge. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:30.319 I forgive them. 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:33.980 And I want you to extend that same forgiveness as well. 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:40.799 Because the whole point of me pointing out this hard truth to them was not to put a stigma on them. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:47.179 It's so that they would see the error of their ways, repent before the Lord and come back in. 00:08:47.319 --> 00:08:50.819 And that they would be restoration and reconciliation. 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:58.379 Can I just say that is our job as elders of this church? 00:08:59.479 --> 00:09:00.319 There's six of us. 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:02.939 That's our mug shots on the screen. 00:09:04.439 --> 00:09:07.039 Our job is not to win popularity contests. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:11.799 Or to ensure that we don't rock the boat or upset the apple cart. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:13.959 We're not in this to get your vote. 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:15.179 That's politicians. 00:09:15.699 --> 00:09:17.299 That's why they change their opinion all the time. 00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:29.559 The skin in the game here is to ensure that God's holiness, his fame and his renown and the joy of walking obediently with Jesus are central to what we do. 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:34.179 And to be on the front line of the spiritual battle in prayer. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:46.959 And working to see that as much as it depends on us, that reconciliation and forgiveness are part of what we do in our life together. 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:48.939 Can I just say I've been doing this gig for a little while now. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:52.579 See the stuff that causes you floods of tears. 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:55.500 The stuff that causes you sleepless nights. 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:59.600 Listen, I can go over a bad sermon in about a day. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.820 But see when a relationship goes south. 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:05.620 When there's a friction. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:07.759 That's the stuff that keeps you up at night. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:12.899 But flip side, see when you see the grace of Jesus. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:17.000 When you get a front row seat to see how he changes hearts. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:23.879 And about how he can really transform even the darkest and the bleakest of situations. 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:27.039 Really those are the most precious moments in this game. 00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:32.399 And even as I say that, I wonder if there are relationships in our lives. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.379 Past or present. 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:37.899 Where the Lord is saying maybe it's time. 00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:41.379 Maybe it's time that you turn. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:43.200 And you reach out. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:49.360 It was Corrie ten Boom who once said to forgive is to set a prisoner free. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:53.139 And discover the prisoner was you. 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:55.580 You see Paul was willing to say the hard thing. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:57.879 Even when others wouldn't. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.299 And secondly, he was willing to do the right thing when others didn't. 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:02.019 Verse 12. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:03.679 Do you see how he says he went to where? 00:11:04.439 --> 00:11:06.059 He goes to Troas. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:08.740 There it is in the map. 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:10.179 He's there. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.279 What's he doing there? 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:15.039 He's wanting to find Titus. 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:17.220 This guy's going to crop up later in the letter. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.279 In fact, he crops up a few times in the New Testament. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.779 He's one of Paul's closest friends. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:24.720 And he's one of his closest ministry companions. 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:27.379 Paul longs to be refreshed by him. 00:11:28.459 --> 00:11:29.259 Comforted by him. 00:11:29.339 --> 00:11:30.360 We see later on in the letter. 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:31.879 Can I just say you need friends? 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:35.339 We need friends in our lives who will speak the truth in love. 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:39.819 We also need friends in our lives who will refresh us and bring us comfort. 00:11:39.820 --> 00:11:42.240 And that was Titus in Paul's life. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:47.960 But added to that, the fact that Titus is due to come from where with news? 00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:49.260 Corinth. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:53.780 Means that this is a doubly desperate situation. 00:11:53.900 --> 00:11:54.840 Paul longs to see him. 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.720 Long to find his comfort. 00:11:57.140 --> 00:11:58.920 I long to hear how you are doing Corinthians. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.680 And that's why I was hanging around Troas. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:04.600 Again, he just wants them to see the genuineness of his love for them. 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:10.480 But when he doesn't find Titus there, he keeps on going to Macedonia. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:13.460 It's the place where God has called him to go. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:17.259 And here's where we arrive at our metaphor. 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.800 From verse 14. 00:12:20.800 --> 00:12:22.560 And Paul's still defending his ministry. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:31.539 But it's as if he moves from being on the defense to here being on the offense. 00:12:33.099 --> 00:12:35.959 When it comes to saying, this is why I do what I do. 00:12:36.819 --> 00:12:40.159 And this is all about his deep conviction. 00:12:41.619 --> 00:12:45.559 Don't talk much about convictions, do we, these days in our culture. 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:49.839 But Paul wants us to know about his deep conviction. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:53.600 It was German poet, Henrik Heine. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.879 What a great name that one is. 00:12:56.540 --> 00:13:00.259 Who went with his friend to visit Amiens Cathedral in France. 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:02.040 There it is on the screen. 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.460 And his friend turned to him and asked, 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:06.500 Why don't people build cathedrals like that anymore? 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.420 And here's what he replied. 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:09.480 I found this really interesting. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:12.220 He said, people in those old times had convictions. 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:15.040 But we moderns only have opinions. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:21.779 And it means more than a mere opinion to erect a Gothic cathedral. 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.699 Here's what he's saying. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.719 Opinions don't get you out of bed in the morning. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:32.199 But convictions drive us to go the distance. 00:13:33.459 --> 00:13:33.620 Right? 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:35.559 Imagine working on those cathedrals. 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:37.620 If you go to Barcelona, you see the one that's there, right? 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.759 It's just never finished. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.799 Imagine working on a project knowing that you're never going to see the finish. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:48.299 But convictions get us out of our beds day after day and keep on going. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.819 And this is Paul's conviction. 00:13:50.339 --> 00:13:53.179 This is why he sticks with weakness is the way. 00:13:54.459 --> 00:13:56.719 Because this is how God changes people. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.639 Not on the outside. 00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:01.399 I think more about this next week. 00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:02.019 Not on the outside. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.899 God changes people on the inside. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:07.339 That's the place where we need to be changed. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:12.300 Now this metaphor might at first seem alien to us. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:18.259 But we've got to understand to the first readers of this letter living in their Roman occupied world. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.560 This is their bread and butter. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.040 Right? 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:25.379 What Paul describes here is what is known as the pompa triumphalis. 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:28.580 Or in English, the triumphal procession. 00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:29.220 Right? 00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:32.639 If you've got your nose in the text, you can look at that verse there. 00:14:32.920 --> 00:14:34.600 The triumphal procession. 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:41.779 So, when a Roman emperor went into battle with their army and won, 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:48.100 what they would do on their return to Rome is have a victory parade. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.759 And all these wee details are really important where we're going to finish. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.019 Right? 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:55.139 And boy was this lavish. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:57.399 Don't know what you think of when you think parades. 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.740 Maybe a stage of life thing. 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:01.540 I think of Aladdin riding into the palace in Agrabah. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:04.699 Maybe you think Super Bowl parades. 00:15:04.839 --> 00:15:09.759 Maybe you can think Team GB parading around London after the 2012 Olympics. 00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.579 Remember that one? 00:15:10.719 --> 00:15:16.259 Maybe you can think Hibs when they won the Scottish Cup back in 2016 and paraded around central Edinburgh. 00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:19.699 It's one for the Hybies out there trying to remind you of better days. 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:23.740 But if you go to Rome, you'll still find this stuff. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:23.960 Right? 00:15:24.280 --> 00:15:26.500 You will find the Titus Arch there. 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.220 If you go to Rome. 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:35.920 This contains panels depicting the triumphal procession that was celebrated in 71 AD. 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:38.320 So, yes, we're talking about a metaphor here. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.740 But we're also talking about history. 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:41.560 This stuff really happened. 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:45.699 Now, let me try and get us into the running order of the parade. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.279 Because this is where the gold is. 00:15:48.359 --> 00:15:48.619 Okay? 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:53.939 There would be one man receiving the praise in this parade. 00:15:55.719 --> 00:15:56.639 Who's in the middle? 00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:57.699 Who's at the center? 00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:59.099 Who's in the spotlight? 00:15:59.619 --> 00:16:02.079 Who's taking all the praise as the victor? 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.919 The conquering general. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:09.479 So, this parade, above all else, is about his victory. 00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:16.919 And just in front of him, there would be one group making a smell. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.240 The incense bearers. 00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:24.199 Now, you know that phrase that we have in our culture, you've got one job. 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:28.440 So, this group of people really did have one job. 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:37.560 Just to hold up these massive lanterns, torches, filled with all kinds of spices and fragrances. 00:16:38.520 --> 00:16:42.160 Likely that the emperor had handpicked to be the smell of his victory. 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:48.720 And what their one job was, was to walk in front of the emperor, hold them in the air, 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:52.379 and fill the air with the smell of a thousand scented candles. 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:53.440 That was your job. 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.660 The light to do your job. 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:59.640 Hold it in the air, and just waft the incense of victory everywhere. 00:17:02.040 --> 00:17:05.960 Have you ever had that experience of walking into a room filled with a really powerful smell? 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.200 What's the phrase that we use? 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.740 The smell hit us. 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.279 That's what they had to do. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:15.019 So that everyone about knew about the emperor's victory. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:19.539 Fill the air with that news. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:25.839 And then finally, there would be two peoples breathing it in. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:33.019 One group of people were in front of the emperor. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:36.759 Who were they? 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:47.379 They were some of the people from the city that he had conquered, that he had captured, was bringing home, and were now kind of prisoners of war. 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:54.620 Heads down, faces gloomy, uncertain about what was going to happen next. 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:59.500 And the other group were behind the emperor. 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.300 Now, who were they? 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:10.799 People who had been captives in the city that the emperor had gone to conquer, had conquered it and had brought his people back home. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.159 And they are not gloomy. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.680 They are dancing. 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.619 They are skipping. 00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:18.500 They are singing for joy. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:21.099 Because our king has set us free. 00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:23.079 Now, why go behind the king? 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:28.119 I take it that to show the world that we are living in the slipstream of his victory. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:35.919 And the thing to understand is that both of these groups are breathing in the same smell. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:42.100 They are both breathing in that smell that the incense bearers are wafting everywhere. 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:45.039 But here is the difference. 00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:46.039 This is crucial. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.060 Here is the difference. 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:53.060 The group out in front, remember the prisoners of war, they smell the smell of the emperor's victory. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.580 And to them, they smell it. 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.600 Get it in their lungs. 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.500 And it smells of death. 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:06.079 But to the other group, they smell it. 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:11.599 And to them, it's the smell of life. 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:21.759 And Paul wants us to picture, is the whole world like that victory parade? 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:28.160 God has declared Jesus to be that emperor supreme. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.680 He's the only reason there's a parade. 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:36.799 Because he is the one who lived the life that we couldn't live. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:42.900 Because he is the one who died on the cross paying the penalty, the one that should be on us because of our sins. 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:50.259 Because he is the one who rose again, defeating death, freeing us from the power of sin and death and the claim of the devil. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.579 Because he is the one who has given us life. 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:55.099 Because he is the one who has ascended. 00:19:55.859 --> 00:20:00.059 God has declared him in the eyes of the watching world to be the emperor supreme. 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:05.279 And you've got to understand that that is what Jesus is doing right now, even as we speak. 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:08.700 You know, we woke up to a new president on Wednesday. 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:10.480 What do they call the person in that role? 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.900 The most powerful person in the world. 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:16.859 But we've got to understand that there's a king way above him. 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:21.240 And he's never going to be voted out of office. 00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:24.679 And his term is never going to expire. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.639 Presidents and parties will come and go. 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:34.219 It will go blue, red, blue, red, blue, red for many a year to come. 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.619 But this king is never going to be toppled. 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:40.759 And he is this right now. 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:42.439 God understand that right now. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.900 As we speak, he is Lord. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:49.700 God has declared him to be Lord over every square inch of this cosmos. 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:52.559 It means every single bit of the city. 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:54.620 Every bit of your life that you walk around. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.080 He is the Lord over it. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:05.159 And the Christian, I take it, we are the incense bearers. 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.639 Yeah, with one job. 00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:15.240 To delight, to fill the air with the news of the king's victory. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:20.659 What happens when you go past security into the airport, isn't it? 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.919 What do you hit? 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.699 Duty free. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:23.740 Duty. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:29.779 Bright colors, loud music, M&Ms, shortbread, see you Jimmy hats. 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:32.440 But you know the thing that gives me a headache every time I walk through it? 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.700 It's just the smells. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:39.299 Just pinging up fragrances into the air everywhere. 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.059 That's what Paul is saying here. 00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:43.779 Just to fill the air with the news of her king's victory. 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:56.660 Our job through our mouths and by our lives is just to delight, to carry his smell of victory in the air in every place that we go. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:22:04.100 And as we do that, we've got to understand, as we put that smell into the air, there's always going to be two reactions. 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:07.019 To some, some will breathe that in. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.720 Our friends and family. 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.759 And to them it will be the smell of death. 00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:12.120 What utter nonsense. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.180 How narrow-minded. 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.080 How pathetic. 00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:17.019 That's the realism of this passage. 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:22.819 But friends, hear the reason for optimism. 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:26.819 Because others will breathe in that same smell. 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:31.779 And man alive to them it will be the smell of life. 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:41.819 And it will be the smell that causes you to leap and to dance and to sing in the slipstream of the king who's just given you life. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:53.660 Now think about how many of us here came to know Jesus through the Jesus fragrance that came from the lives of other friends and family that we had in our lives. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.700 Imagine the vast, vast majority of us, right? 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.480 We smelt it from somebody. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:01.779 Was it sorted people though? 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:03.500 Was it impressive people? 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.400 Was it spectacular people? 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.740 No, of course it wasn't. 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:09.299 It was just ordinary people doing ordinary things. 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.319 Changing nappies. 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.319 Doing the school run. 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.079 Sitting in the lecture. 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.960 Going to work. 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:14.779 Doing the commute. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:20.140 But people who we could tell had had their hearts captured by an extraordinary God. 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:20.640 Right? 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.059 Here's the deal. 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.700 See when people have been to the pub? 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.960 You can smell it off them. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.460 See when people have had a cigarette? 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.500 You can smell it off them. 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.839 See when people have been to a coffee shop? 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:36.180 Starbucks is the worst. 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:38.079 You can smell it off them, yeah? 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:42.440 See when people have delighted to spend time with Jesus? 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.019 You can smell it off them. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:49.139 You know a little evangelistic phrase that I find really helpful? 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:53.599 What grabs the heart, wags the tongue. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:58.460 Let me ask you, who did you first smell it off? 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:07.680 Can I just tell you, the guy for me, just as we closed, this is one of the guys that God used in my life when I was young. 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:09.539 Do you remember this guy from The Simpsons? 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.420 Yeah? 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.740 Ned Flanders? 00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:16.880 The squeaky clean, no fun religious guy that everyone kind of laughed at? 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.240 We had a guy in our school like that. 00:24:20.540 --> 00:24:26.020 I remember rightly, one of the nicknames that somebody once gave him was Neddy, which in Glasgow means something else, right? 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:27.620 But that's what we meant by it. 00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:33.840 I think I've told you about him before, but he came to mind again this week, and I just sent him a text just telling him, 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:35.500 thank you for playing this role in my life. 00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.740 You've no idea what God did. 00:24:37.040 --> 00:24:37.980 His name was Stephen. 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:39.340 Right? 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:41.240 Everyone knew that he was a Christian. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:44.879 Every so often we got reminded that he was actually serious about it. 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:49.639 In fact, I distinctly remember him once in front of our entire school rugby team, 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:55.240 turning down the chance to play at Murray Field for the school team because it was happening on a Sunday, 00:24:55.459 --> 00:24:57.220 and he was saying, no, I'm going to be at church. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.559 And we thought, this guy's nuts. 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.359 He's bonkers. 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:05.899 But I tell you what, he was a very impressionable teenager at the time, 00:25:05.959 --> 00:25:07.679 trying to figure out what life was all about. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:13.080 I watched Stephen unashamedly nail his colours to the mast when I was all too happy to sit on the fence. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.140 I owned the fence. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:18.360 And to most, what Stephen stood for was absolutely nonsense. 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:21.880 And I heard the nicknames and I heard the jokes that people made about him. 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:27.600 But see, for me, what he had, the fact that he was like the grand old Duke of York, 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:30.160 he was neither up nor down, the fact that he was consistent, 00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:34.180 the fact that he was content, that he was happy, was wildly attractive. 00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:36.660 Wildly attractive. 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.580 And here's the thing. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.279 People smelt death. 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:45.640 But somehow in God's goodness and in his sovereignty, I smelt the same smell. 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:48.039 And I smelt life. 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:52.320 Can I give you three quickfire encouragements as we close? 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.060 These are real quick. 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:55.560 And it's all wrapped up in that phrase at verse 14. 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.100 See it. 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.639 Through us. 00:25:56.639 --> 00:26:00.759 Through us. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.939 Or he uses us. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:05.759 Right? 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.959 How does God do this? 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:10.159 What's the means by which God reaches people for Christ? 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:13.340 Paul is saying it's through us. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.340 It's through everyday people. 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.759 Three quickfire encouragements. 00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.460 Here's number one. 00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:19.640 God works through our weakness. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.779 He says, who is up to such a task? 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.100 Do you see him say that? 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:24.480 Who's up to such a task? 00:26:24.540 --> 00:26:27.580 And you think, if anybody cannot say that, it's the Apostle Paul. 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:27.699 No. 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.839 But he's saying, who's up to this task? 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:32.019 We can't transform anybody. 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:35.259 But listen, the power is not in our performance. 00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:37.779 The power is in the message. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.240 No one says this better than Sam Albrey. 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:42.179 I come back to this quote again, again, again. 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.839 Love this guy. 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:45.939 He said, I don't need to look good so that Jesus can look good. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:51.480 I need to be honest about my colossal spiritual needs so that he can look all sufficient. 00:26:53.100 --> 00:26:54.000 Number two. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:56.840 Dear friends, you have no idea who's breathing it in. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.759 Let's encourage you with that. 00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:02.920 You have no idea who's in the background breathing it in. 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:08.279 Don't underestimate what God can do through the power of your simple witness. 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.759 And then number three. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:17.160 The God who created our physical nostrils is sovereign over our spiritual ones as well. 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.859 And we can trust him that he knows what he's doing. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:24.240 Even when we see these twin reactions going on. 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:28.059 And we can trust that his purposes are perfect. 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:33.559 And Father, I pray that your spirit be moving amongst us this morning. 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:39.799 And would he be bringing that knowledge of who the Lord Jesus is in his victory? 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.139 That knowledge of forgiveness. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:46.460 Perhaps that conviction of where we're not right with somebody. 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:54.519 Lord, I pray particularly for those who are here today who are struggling with perhaps their friends or family, Lord. 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:59.480 Thinking that their faith is nonsense or hitting a brick wall. 00:27:59.659 --> 00:28:02.119 Father, I pray that you would give us endurance and strength. 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:06.019 And Lord, we do pray as we think about those who will smell this. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:09.500 And it will be the smell of life. 00:28:09.659 --> 00:28:13.479 Lord, we long for more people in this city to come to know you. 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:17.339 So Father, we thank you for the words of Ephesians chapter 3. 00:28:17.459 --> 00:28:21.979 Now to him who's able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:24.679 According to his power that is at work within us. 00:28:24.739 --> 00:28:30.619 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.339 Amen. 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:33.379 Amen. 00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:34.379 Amen. 00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:35.039 Amen. 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.859 Amen. 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.139 Amen. 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:36.219 Amen. 00:28:36.219 --> 00:28:37.379 Amen. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:37.979 Amen. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:38.299 Amen. 00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:38.559 Amen. 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.199 Amen. 00:28:40.219 --> 00:28:40.299 Amen. 00:28:40.459 --> 00:28:42.199 Amen. 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:44.259 Amen. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:46.339 Amen. 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:50.339 Amen. 00:28:50.719 --> 00:28:50.959 Amen. 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.239 Amen. 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:54.059 Amen. 00:28:54.159 --> 00:29:00.719 Amen.