Whispers of Expressing

His Life ⁽¹⁾

by Ray and Doris Prinzing

Chapter 12

 A LIVING PERFUME

"Thanks be to God Who leads us, wherever we are, on Christ's triumphant way and makes our knowledge of Him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume. We christians have the unmistakable 'scent' of Christ, discernable alike to those who are being saved and to those who are heading for death." [2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Phillips].

       Moffatt translation: Verse 15, "I live for God as the fragrance of Christ breathed alike on those who are being saved and on those who are perishing..."
      Knox translation speaks of them as "a life-giving perfume."
      Williams: "A living perfume that leads to life..."
      In the writings and histories of many past saints, the expression is often used ―"the odor of sanctity." It was a peculiar fragrance that clung to them, and was especially noticeable at their death. Emanating from the indwelling life of Christ, for some there was a literal fragrance, as well as that all-pervading spiritual enrichment that flowed from their lives.
      Perhaps the question could be asked: Did Adam lose his 'aroma' in exchange for the stench of the flesh, and has man invented his perfumes as a substitute cover-up? (It doesn't work, but man keeps trying. Whatever is within will eventually be seen, regardless of the cover-up which is used.)
      A glimpse of the negative side will help to serve as a background for those positive truths which follow.
      Isaiah 57:9, "Thou didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell."
      The prophet Isaiah is describing the nation of Israel as one that played the whore -adding many alluring and enticing perfumes, exotic smells, and then sent out the invitation for many lovers to come unto her. And in all of this she utterly debased herself. The illustration is clear enough.
      The religious realm has also tried to USE the 'air of spirituality and piety' to allure the world. With the perfume of good works, charitable functions, forms of piety that appeal to the ascetic sense of the soul, and with many such things the religious have drawn men into their bosom. Yet the baser motives are being discovered, and they are seen for being selfish motives, seeking for personal gain, building personal kingdoms, and increasing the size of their estate, far more than for the purpose of drawing men and women to Christ alone. But when the masquerade is stripped away, and the perfume doesn't hide any more, the real stench of the flesh is uncovered, and the shame is there for all to see.
      Among all the ways and actions of the "strange woman" (type of all the religious harlot systems of man) as recorded in Proverbs 7, we read in verse 17, "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon."
      The bed is symbolic as the place of rest, and of love. The world is weary of its travail, and longs for both the rest and love that are promised by the many religious systems of man. Furthermore, they will offer all the fragrances and perfumes of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
      Myrrh ―a bitter gum resin. It has long stood as the symbol of the deep bitter experiences which men endure. And every religious group has their own perfumes of the things they have suffered ―their martyrs, the injustices suffered, the persecutions endured, the reproaches heaped upon them, the prices they have paid ―and now they lay claim to your love and respect for them, with such a perfume that enhances their standing. Surely, now, they say, they are worthy of your attention and fellowship, for they have paid areal price for this perfume of myrrh.
      Aloes ―an aromatic wood, when burned yields a fragrant odor. So they speak of the fires they have passed through; and now this lovely perfume is released ―a fragrant result of all their works and endeavours.
      Cinnamon ―one of the spices used in their ointments.
      Blended all together, the many spices and perfumes ―all used with one intent, to increase the sensual (soulish) pleasure, and to allure others to join in with their particular organization and practice.
      There is one aroma that is never mentioned by any of them, and yet it is highly pronounced in all their systems, the stench of condemnation. For if you will not play their games their way, and support their endeavours, believe their doctrines, etc. they will condemn you and turn from you.
      How grateful we are, therefore, for Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Here is the aroma of peace, of joy, and release from all the smell of a guilt-conscious, sin-conscious,  condemnation of men. In Him is life, and its sweet perfume will pervade your life and fill you with a sense of His love and care, and in it is a release ―a liberty from all the confines of man. So turn we now from the negativity of man, in his flesh-generated scent and substitute perfumes, to find in Christ that which becomes "the fragrance of life," as Arthur S. Way gives in his translation.
      A beautiful positive record is given in the book of Esther, as she was being prepared for presentation to the king. The days of purification were, "six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours." [Esther 2:12]. And when it was time for her to appear before the king, "she required nothing but what Regal the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed." She did not desire any of the embellishments of the world, her own state of being, deeply perfumed with the oil of myrrh and sweet odours, was enough.
      The spiritual applications we can draw from this are tremendous. We know betimes what it means to pass through the valley ―the six months with oil of myrrh. Six is the number of man, and there is that travail which is appointed unto man, to be exercised thereby. Yes, as aforementioned, the strange woman also had her bed perfumed with myrrh, but it was all for SELF. She used her martyrdom-complex, injustices, etc. to enhance her own self image. But the child of God, finding their life in Christ alone, will find that passing through the appointed travails serves to bring an end to their own self-will, self-desires, ego-strutting, so that they might be conformed to HIS IMAGE, and be presented to Him without spot or wrinkle, perfumed with His own divine fragrance. Yes, until our whole being literally becomes THE FRAGRANCE OF HIS LIFE, with His anointing rubbed in, into our very depths.
      There were anointing oils that were simply poured on, and while some of it would linger, covering the outer part of the being, it also ran off, or evaporated, and was gone. Then then was that anointing oil that was smeared on, spread around, with a little hand pressure. Thank God for His hand upon us, and the anointing applied. But when the scripture speaks of the "anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you..." [1 John 2:27] it uses a Greek word that means: TO BE RUBBED IN. Then it penetrates to inmost core, and remains there, not only to be as a perfume rubbed in, but also as a perfume that remains upon all that flows out of such a life. It is an ABIDING ANOINTING which becomes the FRAGRANCE OF HIS LIFE to emanate forth to bless others. May God indeed bring us into Himself until we have a continual ANOINTED STATE OF BEING. This is beyond a feeling anointing. Our feelings can be stirred with an anointing that is poured on, and they can quickly change as that anointing "runs off." But when it is RUBBED IN, it abides, whether we feel it or not, there is a constant emanation of His perfume, to His glory and praise.
      "And six months with sweet odours..." How beautifully God blends the interplay of good and evil. Yes, there are those deep travails and testings which we pass through, the bitter experiences that try the soul. But there are also those seasons of refreshing, of sweet odours, when the rare spices of life add their enrichment, and we are strengthened and encouraged to follow on in the way He has set before us. Times when "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places..."[Psalm 16:8]. The carnal man, the one who minds the flesh and seeks only for self, uses these "times of sweet odours" to further his own cause, but the believer that seeks to be filled with God, found pleasing unto Him, will find that not only do pressures press him onward into God, but the blessings likewise irresistibly urge him onward into more of His blessed reality. And when our Lord has finished using both the bitter and the sweet, it blends to flow out of a life that has become A LIVING PERFUME.
      Song of Solomon 3:6, "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchants?"
      Coming out of the wilderness PERFUMED ―such a phrase holds the vision of triumph, glory, and sweet blessings. But it also becomes clear, there can be no such "COMING OUT," until first, there has been a "GOING INTO." Sure we are far more interested in the 'coming out' than being 'in' the wilderness, but the end results cannot be enjoyed without its preceding process.
      The purpose of going into all of our wilderness experiences, with all their dry, barren areas; or with its tangled underbrush which hems one in from all sides; or with its wild and unknown expanses filled with beasts and terrifying hours, the purpose for all this, we say, is ―"in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what is in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandment, or no." [Deuteronomy 8:2]. The journey isn't easy ―we all have learned this by experience, so there is no need to describe it at length. Jeremiah speaks of it as "a land of deserts, and of pits, a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt." [Jeremiah 2:6]. But the processings of God are sure; nor is there any lack in Him. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." [Psalm 23:5]. When He has used all the "ways and means" of the wilderness in our development, then there is a COMING OUT - richly perfumed, to His glory and praise.
      "Like pillars of smoke." The word "pillars" is only used twice in the Old Testament, and is the Hebrew word "timeroth" meaning "palm trees," or actually, the appearance like unto the palm tree. Thus the figure of speech, they look like smoke in the form and appearance of a palm tree. The other time this word is used is in Joe12:30, "And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."
      Out of the wilderness comes GOD'S PROCESSED ONES with the appearance of smoke in the form of a palm tree. These will be one of His wonders to behold. But, you ask, what does all this symbolism mean? Ah, here we have a very interesting parallel. We note from the pictures taken of the exploding of an atom bomb, that the smoke cloud arises with a long stem and then moves out like the top of a palm tree. (Modern terminology calls it like the shape of a mushroom). Here is a company of God's thoroughly processed people, positive in God, which will be an answer to all the negative forces in the world.
      Smoke was once a sign of being conquered by a mighty force. When Israel was in battle against Ai, as we read in Judges 8:20-21, when they finally got to the city, the men of Ai who had left their city to pursue the Israelites, looking back and seeing the city all a-smoke, knew that they had been defeated. As a pillar of smoke, our life shall testify that we have been fully subdued by God in our wilderness experience, and now emerge out of the wilderness as ONE IN HIS WILL, and PERFUMED. Not smelling like burning debris, but HE has so enriched us with Himself, that we have been permeated with HIS LIFE AND FRAGRANCE.
      A people perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, and all the powders of the merchant. Merchant ―the Hebrew word means: to go to and fro, be a merchant. It signified the searching of the buyer to find the goods, and then to pay the full price for them. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." [Matthew 13:45-46]. Having FOUND HIM whom our soul loveth, we are truly willing to release all else, forsaking all others, to cleave only to Him. HIS KINGDOM, HIS WILL, HIS MORE ABUNDANT LIFE ―to buy the truth and sell it not ―there are some tremendous transactions taking place in the wilderness, while we come to the place where HE BECOMES ALL IN ALL TO US.
      Then we note that the merchant was buying "powders," which Hebrew word means: small crushed powder. Have we not bought a lot of crushing experiences? Why? So that the sweet perfume of HIS DIVINE FRAGRANCE might fill the whole of our life, and then spread out to bless all those around us,
      We ought not to weep over the crushings which come, but rather praise God for the sweetness of His life which is then released in and through us: perfumed with myrrh. We have already seen that in Esther it was used as a part of the anointing, rubbed in until the whole is permeated with its very perfume, But there is another usage of myrrh which needs to be included here, for it was used in the embalming process. Bitter experiences in the wilderness are certainly used to bring out the sweet fragrance of His nature, and also to remove the stench of our own self-righteousness. Yes, "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil." [Psalm 141:5]. Myrrh ―so bitter, yet used by God to be an excellent oil, to perfume, to anoint, to embalm ―for not only is the flesh, with its self-centeredness put to death, it is also embalmed so that no one has to endure the offence of the corpse.
              The same applications can be drawn for frankincense. The meaning of the word is: to be white, because of the pure whiteness of the gum. It also has a bitter taste, and is used for incense, embalming, and for sacrificial fumigation. The latter we would comment on. Placed on every sacrifice it counteracted the smell of burning flesh. When we become a living sacrifice on the altar, we have great need of frankincense; to make us as a sweet savor to the Lord, and to all those around us.
      Anointed, perfumed, embalmed ―these usages of the myrrh and frankincense, the sweet odours, the costly powders of the merchant, will result in a DIVINE FRAGRANCE that will emanate from the believer to bless and enrich, and make it pleasant for all those who are in their presence. No moaning and groaning over the trials endured. No seeking for sympathy for the fires which were consuming the sacrifice. Only an atmosphere of praise and worship to our God, worship that ascends as a sweet incense.
      "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." [John 12:3].
      There is a principle here which demands that we take time to ponder it. Mary was not going from room to room trying to spread the perfume, so that everybody would remark on how sweet she was, her talents, her works, etc. but Mary was ministering solely to the Lord ―giving herself completely to these demonstrations of love and worship to Him ―yet the result was that the whole house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Everybody present experiences the blessing of the fragrance, though it was poured out solely for the purpose of this act toward our Lord.
      There is something unique in the fact that the more your life is poured out unto the Lord, with all your worship directed solely to Him, to magnify and exalt Him, yet all the more will its blessings reach out to everyone around you ―for as A LIVING PERFUME, HE takes that worship-offering which flows from your heart, and causes it to be a sweet odour to bless many. HE MUST HAVE PREEMINENCE! Our worship must be directed Godward. Whatever follows can never take the place of this highest priority. And when we have poured it all out unto Him, then we can go on to find that on a lesser level, we can follow up with a ministry to others.
      Paul wrote to the Philippians that the things they sent to him, to minister unto his needs, were as "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing unto God." [Philippians 4:18]. Following what we might term that vertical offering ― to the Lord, then comes that horizontal offering that is given to others, which retains the sweet fragrance of the perfume. You cannot reverse the order! You cannot seek to serve mankind first, and then end your service with a token of worship to the Lord ― for it all comes out smelling of flesh. A doing to be seen and heard of men, and then a hope that God will accept it all and bless it. The sorrow of such is that more and more we end up serving others in our flesh, taking on even a martyr-complex, and find we have little time for God at all. But when first we give ourselves totally to Him, to worship Him, then HE anoints us to serve one another, and it retains the sweet perfume of His anointing, and HE is glorified ―it is well-pleasing unto Him.
      When HE fills our life, then even the ministry towards others remains as TO HIM. "For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. ―Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." [Matthew 25:35-36,40].
      Paul reaffirms this truth over and over again ―that ministry to others is to be unto the Lord. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." [Colossians 3:17]. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." [1 Corinthians 10:32]. Do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." [Colossians 3:23]. A ministry to others that is the outflow of our ministry to Him!
      "And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." [Ephesians 5:2].How essential that we WALK INLOVE― not the self-absorption love of the flesh, that gives only in the thought of how it shall receive, but in that self-sacrificial love of God, as demonstrated in our Lord Jesus Christ. Such        bespeaks a GIVING OF HIMSELF ―a giving of ourself, in such surrender that He might use this offering as HE WILLS, for whom He wills, and we joyfully continue in the giving.
      Furthermore, there is something unique in the spreading of the perfume, that if it is liquidized, and poured on someone, it would submerge them in an overwhelming heaviness, more than they can receive, it is over-powering. But let it be gently diffused (spiritized) and it will penetrate without force or strain, and refresh ever so many around us. God knows just how much to pour out ―that's why our offering is UNTO HIM, for Him to dispense as He chooses, on whom He chooses, at the time He chooses. We are prone to flood people, according to our time― ideas for them, and often they are not ready for such a dosage. The Father knows how and when to draw all men.
      Paul gives us insight when he writes, "THROUGH UNION WITH CHRIST, (then) everywhere through me keeps spreading the perfume of the knowledge of Him. Indeed, I am the fragrance of Christ to God..." [2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Williams].
      Praise God! It becomes the unmistakable scent of the freshness of His life, ministered by the Spirit, through our UNION WITH HIM. This blessed ministration of the Spirit far exceeds that of the old covenant of the law, where it was written upon tablets of stone, and those who did not obey it were STONED. Now HIS LOVE gently distills the truth, to fall as the dew, to enhance and enrich, and to irresistibly draw to Himself. The more the message and the messenger become one, so that our state of being is the message ―and then the whole becomes as a LIVING PERFUME, this becomes an expression of Christ to mankind that is precious, yet victorious. There is no escaping the powerful influence of the ointment, when its odour fills every room in the house.
      Another dimension is added to the thought of this perfume, when we read of the "golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints." [Revelation 5:8]. Prayer is the expression of the divine will, and it is joined to the principle of confession. For while with the heart man believeth into righteousness, with the mouth confession is made into salvation. When we pray we are confessing ―expressing ―and especially when it is His Spirit prompting us, it is a verbalizing of the will of God. Out of the implanted desire, we speak forth that which HE purposes to do, and thus prayer becomes a prophetic utterance which becomes a part of that PERFUME which will in His time bring the blessing of realization. As we express the prayer it rises as that sweet incense, gathered into His golden vial, reserved for the time when HE purposes to pour out that vial, diffuse the perfume, and fulfill it in the lives of those for whom the prayer was made.
      This is NOT a reciting of the sins of men, telling God how awful conditions are around us, etc. That is not a perfume prayer. But when it is the outflow of a purified desire, expressing by the Spirit the will of God to be wrought in His time, that outflow of the heart is as a sweet odour, and it will have its God-ordained effect ―it will be answered. Praise Him.
      And finally, we come to Song of Solomon 4:16, "Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out." This is quite a request! For when the cold north wind meets the warm south wind, there is often a violent reaction ―but there was a purpose, for it was to bring a release of the perfume ―the scent of the spices― that they would flow out from that garden.
      It is interesting that in this chapter there are eight special spices that are listed. Eight is the number of resurrection, new beginnings, new creation. Out of all the death throes, of the turbulent winds, the stormy trials, there will be a release of the fragrance of HIS INWORKINGS, and we will be brought into the resurrection, to share that fulness, that oneness of the Spirit, to become a LIVING PERFUME ―yes, a LIFE-GIVING perfume, to become an expression of Him that will bless all men.

 

The unmistakable scent of Christ

To emanate from my life,

Odours of His love and peace

To cancel out the smell of strife.

 

Excellent oil to anoint -

Penetrate through all the soul,

Deep within, no part withheld,

Fragrance rare to fill the whole.

 

Till in Him I have become

Savor sweet unto the Lord,

As a life-giving perfume,

Sure fulfillment of His Word.