Marked by Christly Fragrance
The sermon emphasizes the importance of experiencing the fragrance of Christ, which is a presence that is as the fragrance of myrrh and aloes, and how it can transform our lives.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the transformative power of experiencing the presence of Christ, likening it to the exquisite fragrance of myrrh and aloes. He reflects on how the scent of Christ's garments can spoil us for anything less, urging believers to seek this divine fragrance in their lives. Tozer recalls his early church experiences, where the presence of God was palpable among the congregation, particularly through the older saints whose lives radiated Christ's essence. He encourages the faithful to cultivate a longing for this spiritual aroma, which enriches their relationship with God and one another.
Text
I also long in the tender mercies of Christ that among us there may be the following: . . . 7. A presence of Christ that is as the fragrance of myrrh and aloes. When you become accustomed to the smell of His garments you will be spoiled for anything less. If we never smell the myrrh and aloes out of the ivory palaces, we may go along a lifetime and not miss it. But one beautiful whiff of the fragrance of these garments and we will never be satisfied with anything less. When my wife and I were first married we attended a church of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Akron, Ohio. There was something on that church, a sense of the fragrance of God. The great Dr.
Gerow preached there in those days.
The church had some sweet Christian brethren, some wonderful men and women of God, and there was a fragrance on that place. I have never forgotten it. I was between 19 and 21 for the three years I spent in that church, and I do not remember getting help from others of my age. But how I remember getting help that is with me to this day from the older saints whose garments were fragrant with the myrrh, aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces!
Sermon Outline
- The Fragrance of Christ points: - A presence of Christ that is as the fragrance of myrrh and aloes
- The Impact of Christ's Fragrance points: - Becoming accustomed to the smell of His garments - Being spoiled for anything less
- Experiencing Christ's Fragrance points: - A beautiful whiff of the fragrance of these garments - Never being satisfied with anything less
- The Source of Christ's Fragrance points: - The ivory palaces - The older saints whose garments were fragrant
Key Quotes
“When you become accustomed to the smell of His garments you will be spoiled for anything less.” — A.W. Tozer
“But one beautiful whiff of the fragrance of these garments and we will never be satisfied with anything less.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should seek out communities of believers who have a strong presence of Christ in their lives.
- We should strive to become people whose garments are fragrant with the myrrh, aloes, and cassia of Christ.
- We should never settle for anything less than a deep and personal experience of God's presence in our lives.