Episode Details
Back to Episodes2207 Smell Like Jesus
Description
Something is happening within you as you surrender your life to God and grow more in Jesus – You are becoming so incredibly attractive. You have a certain glow about you. You stand out. There’s something magnetizing about you. There’s a deep joy within you and it just seeps out of your pours. Others are seeing it!
Something supernatural happens when your life is lived in close relationship with God. You can’t explain it and you can’t duplicate it in any other way. Let me tell you a story …
At our Redwood Forest Retreat this past weekend, there was a lady named Kayla. Kayla is a sold-out, bold and courageous follower of Jesus. She knows exactly what Jesus saved her from and she lives every moment of her life in loud praise of him for that rescue and redemption. Life hasn’t been easy for her, but God has done a radical work of redemption in her. Let me tell you, you don’t spend time with Kayla and walk away the same. The Holy Spirit she carries in her truly does shift the atmosphere.
On the final morning of our retreat, everyone except for Kayla went down to the shore for a time or worship, cold plunge and baptisms. Kayla said the Holy Spirit had prompted her to stay behind in the retreat house to spend alone time with him. That’s rare for her because Kayla has 10 kids and is actively involved in a street ministry in Sacramento. Sitting with God in this glorious cottage in the redwoods was perfection for her.
While we were all floating around in freezing cold water allowing God to breath into us, Kayla was singing and praising back at the retreat house. Without any of us knowing, she was specifically praying to be a Christ-like-fragrance. Hmmmm, have you ever prayed that? Well, me neither!
2 Corinthians 2:15, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.”
We returned to the retreat house within an hour to find the praise music blasting. And one of our retreat girls, Janiel, caught a whiff of the most beautiful perfume. It was coming from Kayla. In fact, the fragrance was so unique and beautiful, Janiel turned to Kayla’s sister and asked if she knew what perfume Kayla was wearing. Later we found out about her prayer that morning to be a Christ-like-fragrance.
How wild is that? The Holy Spirit’s work in you makes you a beautiful fragrance!!!!!!
Now, understand why. Why does a life surrendered to Jesus and lived in close relationship with him make you stand out with a glow? Why does it change your very fragrance?
Well, this isn’t about you. This isn’t about you being noticed. This isn’t about you looking better. This isn’t about anyone admiring you. Trust me, this isn’t about you smelling good. This is about JESUS!
Philippians 1:11 MSG, “Live a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.”
There it is – the Holy Spirit’s work in us with the results of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control all growing in us – this makes Jesus Christ ATTRACTIVE! Our surrendered lives make Jesus look good to others! And yes, that makes us stand out, that makes people see us different, that can even make us smell different – to the point that they ask, “What’s up with her, what does she have, and how do I get some?”
But we have a unique way of making everything about us. We forget this isn’t about YOU being attractive – this is about JESUS BEING ATTRACTIVE IN YOU! Come back to that, Sis.
You don’t need anyone to give you glory or praise. If that’s what you’re seeking, this has gotten twisted. And really, that happens so easily – I know it got really twisted for me for a really long time. God has been so patient with me. His grace over me has been undeserved. He humbled me and continues to humble me so I untwist this – it was never about me – it was always about Jesus. MAKE JESUS ATTR