DAY THREE: Wearing the JESUS Smell

“For we are the aroma of Messiah to God, among those who are being saved and those who are perishing— 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. Who is competent for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 TLV

Smells and aroma…reading this verse has always excited and stumped me. There is a smell, aroma, fragrance the LORD JESUS emits. If we go back to when we were introduced to fragrances or smells in the Scriptures, we see that they are tied to altars and sacrifices. The smell of our sacrifices, if pleasing before the LORD, is intoxicating to HIM! And we know that HE only accepts sacrifices from those who are clean. We know that the sacrifices are important to HIM, but seeing this verse here brings it home. 

The offering of sacrifices on an altar to the LORD in the Old Testament was a type and shadow of JESUS dying on the cross. The smell of their sacrifices was also a type and shadow of the smell that JESUS HIMSELF has. HIS death on the cross gave up an aroma to JEHOVAH. This was the perfect sacrifice, this was the perfect altar, this was the altar of all altars, this was the smell ADONAI had been searching for since Abraham started offering burnt sacrifices to HIM. This was THE smell that truly IS intoxicating to HIM!

Now we are told here in Corinthians that we, me, you, are the aroma of JESUS. What altar have we inherited? The smell we carry, the smell we have inherited, is so important. If GOD can smell us, so can demonic entities. What do they smell on us? Is it a smell that excites them or a smell that repels them from us?

If we have inherited smells of disobedience, sickness, and pain, it can all be switched with the aroma of JESUS.  This is the only aroma GOD accepts. Go back and look at the beginning of verse 15: “We are the aroma of Jesus to God.” I feel such a responsibility here, a responsibility to make sure I take care of my altar, that I do not bring any strange fire to the LORD.

GOD is looking for the aroma of JESUS on us; every time we come before HIM, all HE wants to smell is JESUS.

Smells can trigger memories; they can remind you of the best meal you had or the worst meal you had. The can remind you of fun memories or perfumes/colognes of loved ones. What memory do we trigger in JEHOVAH when HE smells us? When was the last time we did a smell test? Remember, if GOD can smell us, so can the enemy. Ask yourself, what smell am I wearing today?

Prayer:

My GOD and KING, we want to be pleasing before YOU. Open our eyes to see what smells we have in the spirit. We ask that YOU take off any smell of shame, bitterness, pain, trauma, and so on that can taint us. We want to stand before YOU, JEHOVAH, radiating the smell of JESUS, the fragrance of JESUS, the aroma of JESUS. We ask YOU, LORD, to reveal to us the source of our smell in the spirit. In JESUS’ Name, amen.

“So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who were carrying the ark came up to the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark stepped down into the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 then the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.” Joshua 3:14-17

The Israelites have been wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the LORD died (see Numbers 32:13). The only men remaining from the previous generation are Joshua and Caleb because of their faithful obedience to the LORD (see Numbers 14). By the time we come to Joshua 3, the Israelites are those that were born and raised in the desert. Scholars estimate their total number at upwards of two to three million people (including men, women, children), plus all their possessions and livestock. 

After all this time wandering in the desert, having been delayed from receiving their promise due to the sins of the previous generation, the children, youth, and young adults have finally arrived at the Jordan River. And just across the river is that which their hearts have yearned for: Home. The Promised Land. A fertile land flowing with milk and honey, abundant in resources and prosperity, suitable for both farming and shepherding, a place of peace and security.

But there is one thing blocking their progress: The Jordan River, which was flowing down to the Dead Sea. At this point, the Jordan River was not a calm, peaceful body of water. Rather, it was a rushing flood that overflooded its banks. Now, in this present day, we know that just 12 inches/30 centimeters of rushing water can carry away an entire vehicle. How much more dangerous is a rushing river?

A quick overview of Joshua 3 will show us principles that were key to the Israelites’ miraculous success:

1. They  consecrated themselves to the LORD. Joshua 3:5 says, “Then Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow ADONAI will do wonders in your midst.’”
2. Joshua received precise directions from the LORD and told the Israelites what to do (see verses 7-13).
3. The people obeyed the process designated by the LORD (see verses 14-17).

Sounds simple enough, right? Sure, at face value.

• However, the people had to put their faith into action and physically obey the Word of the LORD. HIS instructions required the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant to step foot into the Jordan River. How many of us would have bolted in fear?
• It also involved faith in the Word of the LORD. You see, when the priests obeyed, the rushing waters automatically stopped and piled up at the city of Adam, which was about 20 miles/32 km away. It would have taken some amount of time before the priests actually saw the results of their obedience as 20 miles of water rushed past them. This would give opportunity for doubt and worry to creep in and take root.
• And it required trust in the faithfulness of the LORD. Can you imagine how long it would have taken millions of people to cross? At any time, the waters had the potential to rush back over them. But GOD had already given the command to the waters, which responded to HIS Voice when the people came into agreement with HIS Word and obeyed HIS command.

So what does this mean for us? The rushing waters that flowed from ADAM to death (the Dead Sea) represent our physical, generational bloodlines. What is it in our bloodlines that is blocking our progress to receiving our Promised Land? What generational cycles need to be broken? What is it that needs to be stopped at ADAM, such that we will be able to cross over into our promise?

Thank GOD that the BLOOD of JESUS speaks on our behalf. It replaces the waters of death and gives us passage to receive all of the covenantal promises found in HIS WORD.

Let us follow the example of Joshua and the Israelites:

1. Consecration – By participating in this 21-day fast, you have taken the first step of consecrating yourself. Continue in this process of consecration, putting to death the things of the flesh, such that the SPIRIT’s Fire may burn and we may be cleansed by the BLOOD of the LAMB.
2. Receive a Word from the LORD – Ask HIM for clear direction – for the source and for the strategy for success to break free from generational cycles. This strategy will always be substantiated by the Word of GOD. Anything contrary to HIS Word is of the enemy.
3. Obey the Word of the LORD – Activate your faith. Whatever HE tells you to do, do it. If it means giving up something, do it. If it means forgiving someone, do it. If it means changing your habits, do it. If it means stepping into a place that you’ve never been, do it. Obey the Word of the LORD in faith – without fear, doubt, or worry.

Let’s pray:

FATHER, thank YOU for the example given in YOUR Word this day. LORD, I am facing the waters of death. There are generational cycles that I’ve been struggling with. Today, I commit to consecrate myself before YOU. I ask that YOU give me clear directions according to YOUR Word. And that YOU would give me the grace to obediently put my faith into action. Thank YOU for the BLOOD of JESUS that replaces the generational waters of death in my life, LORD. In JESUS' Name, amen.

“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone.” Exodus 15:1-5

The song “Who Is Like YOU?” by minstrel Dunsin Oyekan keeps playing in my spirit. It is so funny how the HOLY SPIRIT knows exactly what we need before we need it, such that as soon as we allow our soul to connect to HIS PRESENCE within us, the answers are right there. The peace of GOD is right there. The strength of GOD is right there. 

This song really declares the greatness of our KING – the fact that HE is ruler over the seen and unseen realms and nothing is beyond HIM. HE never gets tired, and HE loves us more than we know. That love compels HIM to express HIS greatness through us, such that others can see and be drawn to HIS incredible power. 

The LORD allowed Abraham’s children to be in bondage for 400 years or four generations. HE knew it would take that long for them to go from 70 people into an entire nation of almost a million. Even then, the land HE promised them since the time of Abraham was still too large for them. Therefore, in the time of Joshua, HE gave it to them a little at a time. See Genesis 15:12-16 and Exodus 23:29-31.

GOD also knew that when the suffering of Abraham’s children was severe enough, they would collectively, from the place of unity, cry out to HIM and HIM alone for deliverance. Can you imagine what it would take for everyone in your local church, town, or village to all agree as one for anything? The suffering had to be shared and felt at the same magnitude. That “cry” is what GOD was looking for from the people. 

The next thing GOD wanted was the resolve to obtain the promise. Even if everyone did not know the covenant, they all wanted freedom. 

“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.” Exodus 2:23-25

The power ADONAI would demonstrate to free HIS friend’s children (Abraham was called the friend of GOD, see Isaiah 41:8) would be so disruptive, so destructive, so unforgettable, that HE wanted to ensure HIS friend’s children were ready for it. 

So, let’s recap. To deliver Abraham’s children from bondage, there needed to be an appointed time, a unified cry, and a determination that freedom was better than bondage. 

Now consider this. If you were an Israelite born in the third generation, no matter how hard you prayed, the bondage would not break over you. It may be lessened, your condition may be better than others, but the appointed time had not come. What did that third generation Israelite do to be born a slave? Nothing. 

His fate was decided by ADONAI and this Israelite would have to endure while he played his role in the third generation, have children who would be the fourth generation, such that they could inherit the promises of the covenant GOD and Abraham made, without consulting this third-generation Israelite. 

Why is this important to us today? 

You and I are walking in covenants made by our ancestors, generations before we were born. Each generation is walking out their role in a covenant. If you were not a natural child of Abraham – descendant of Jacob (Israel) and Esau – you are walking in unholy covenants. 

Unless you have been grafted into the covenant GOD made with Abraham by adoption. Accepting KING JESUS CHRIST and becoming born again qualifies you and I to access the covenant of Abraham. 

Accepting KING JESUS CHRIST also qualifies us to exit covenants that were established by our ancestors whose effects can still be seen and felt in our lives today. I like to call these demonic programming into our bloodline. We have a right to be free from demonic programming. But we have to cry out in unity at our appointed time. Based on the revelations the LORD has been giving us in prayer, I can boldly declare to you, our appointed time has come.

It's time to cry out. It's time to be free from demonic programming and destructive cycles in our lives. It is time to play our part in our generation such that our children can stay free in their generation. It is time. 

Even Abraham’s children had to cry out for salvation. Then and only then did GOD raise up for them a deliverer, Moses, who is the Hebrew Biblical symbol of KING JESUS CHRIST. 

During this 21-day prayer and fasting, we will be crying out in unity with the expectation of full deliverance from covenants we want no part in. 

It takes unity to break free. I need you as much as you need me. Will you join me?

Prayer:

KING JESUS CHRIST, break me free from demonic covenants that were not made with YOU. I want no part of anything satan has to offer. I join my prayers, my cry, with my brothers and sisters to say, “LORD, see the BLOOD of JESUS as payment for any generational debt, and give me, my family, my children, my ministry, my business or job, mercy.” Amen.