If Your Aroma Is Not There Yet, Change Your Perfume

Sermon outline

Faith is a fragrance: it is released by your words, your actions and your prayer and praise, it is blocked by fear, impatience, negativity and sin, and when it is released it rises to God, draws people and changes the atmosphere.

1. What is faith?

   Faith is substance, a reality: hope says one day it will happen, faith says it already belongs to me in Christ. Faith is evidence, proof of what is not yet seen, and the bridge between the invisible promise and the visible reality. It is not denial or wishful thinking but believing God's word above your circumstances, as Abraham did not waver at the promise. Every promise is already yes in Christ, and your part is to believe and receive.

   Illustration: An online purchase gives you the receipt before the package arrives, and in the old days nobody doubted a cheque because they trusted the bank to honour it. God's promises are the cheques, and faith is how you cash them in.

   “Hope says one day it will happen, but what do you think faith says? Faith says it already belongs to me in Christ.”

   • Hebrews 11:1
   • Isaiah 54:13
   • Psalm 23:1
   • Romans 4:20-21
   • 2 Corinthians 1:20

2. How do we release our faith?

   A perfume sealed in its bottle blesses nobody, and faith kept inside without expression does not bless either. First, faith is released by words: speak the word, not your worry, and do not curse your healing over lunch with a friend. Second, by actions: the woman with the issue of blood pushed through the crowd, and Noah built under blue skies in obedience. Third, by prayer and praise: Paul and Silas sang at midnight and the prison was shaken.

   Illustration: If you are looking for a job, faith does not sit on the couch waiting for an offer. It polishes the CV, sends out applications and practises for the interview with a family member, and when you take action God takes action.

   “Faith kept inside without expression doesn't bless.”

   • Mark 11:22-24
   • Romans 10:9-10
   • Proverbs 18:21
   • James 2:17
   • Mark 5:25-34
   • Acts 16:25-26

3. What are the obstacles to faith?

   If faith gives off a sweet aroma, unbelief releases a stench that overwhelms it. The obstacles are fear and doubt, which made Peter sink when he saw the wind; impatience, which makes people quit just before the breakthrough; negative environments, like the ten spies who said we can't; and unforgiveness and sin. She also warns the church not to be the negative environment themselves, in the canteen or on their WhatsApp status.

   Illustration: Years ago, when bills were piling up, Dad took a pledge for the church air conditioning, and she sank lower and lower into her seat avoiding the bag. Then he said you have to sow for the outcome you want, because God is your provider, not your salary. She pledged, never looked back, and cannot explain how every bill was paid that month and every month after.

   “Fear is faith in reverse.”

   • Matthew 14:29-31
   • 2 Timothy 1:7
   • Hebrews 10:36
   • Numbers 13
   • Mark 11:25

4. How does faith become an aroma that pleases God?

   Faith produces a fragrance that does three things. It rises to God, because without faith it is impossible to please Him. It influences people, because when they see you standing firm in a challenge they are drawn to you and to God. And it changes your circumstances and the atmosphere around you, as Paul and Silas shifted a prison and the Hebrew boys shifted a nation by refusing to bow.

   Illustration: A room full of rubbish will never smell sweet, however good the candle you light in it.

   “Faith is the fragrance that heaven loves, the world notices, and hell fears.”

   • Hebrews 11:6
   • Daniel 3:28
   • Isaiah 43:2
   • Psalm 125:1

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