I have noticed lately that there is a fair amount of discussion about a fragrance, a very pleasant fragrance, being experience by folks usually of the Christian variety. The stories range from false alarm accounts where what the person was smelling a timed released deodorizer in the bathroom to clear bona fide occasions where intense worship, prayer, fasting or otherwise seeking the Face of the Lord had taken place.
A few months ago, I met with a friend to share with him some things that the Lord had shown me about ten years ago having to do with God’s purpose for him. The dynamics of the meeting were very powerful as it was led by the Holy Spirit. The interesting thing is that I kept sensing this fragrance. This Fragrance is not natural but is Supernatural.
The Fragrance was very strong, (though not unpleasant) and because I didn’t know at the time what (Who) it was I thought that it was the deodorant that I had recently began to use. I hadn’t had a deodorant before that carried such a strong scent and didn’t want to walk around smelling like that. It seemed pretty strong!
I added deodorant to my Costco shopping list and I thought that that would be that. But “that wasn’t that” and I still experienced the Fragrance. Then, as now, about two or three times a day He reminds me of His presence with a gentle spray of a sweet and for me unidentifiable and undeniable scent. It is as if I am surrounded with It as It falls upon me afresh. I know it is His way of reminding me of His promise of when he said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
I wish that I could say to you that the Fragrance of the Holy Spirit is like this or like that, but I just don’t have a frame of reference that I can point to. I am comfortable saying that if you know yourself to be called of The Most High and are earnestly willing and obedient, it may be that His Enabling Power has come close to you and is even as “The Spirit Upon“ for Kingdom Service (such as The Spiritual Gifts) whenever and wherever needed.
Just last week, I enjoyed this lovely Fragrance while in Sunday’s service. It was delightful and plentiful as it filled the Sanctuary. So much so that I asked one of the Saints that was sitting near me if she could smell it. She looked at me as if to say, “what planet did you just drop in from?”
I now sense the Fragrance often when just walking by people or just walking down the street when no one is in sight. Even when a car goes by. The other day I went to the Food Lion to get a loaf of Rye bread for sandwiches. As I headed to the checkout stand I sense the Fragrance as I walked by a nice lady. I walked down a little ways, and decided to go back to for a quick encounter of the Holy Ghost sort.
I told her that I was aware of a new phenomenon and asked her if she had heard of the “Fragrance of the Holy Ghost”. She gave the kind of response that spoke “well maybe or maybe not”. “Tell me more.”
I was pretty sure that she was in the Church and that she was filled with the Holy Spirit (Word of Knowledge) and she nodded yes when I verified this with her. I shared a little bit about my experience with the Fragrance and even shared a theory.
I told her that I was thinking that perhaps the Fragrance is upon the Angels, gathered on them as they come and go into the presence of God to minister to the Saints or those who shall be heirs of salvation.
We saluted each other with a “Praise the Lord” and I noticed a cheerful look on her face as I headed for the checkout.
The following is from The Book of Enoch:
And there I saw Trees of Judgment, especially vessels of the fragrance of incense and myrrh, and the trees were not alike.
And above it, above these, above the mountains of the east, and not far away, I saw another place, valleys of water, like that which does not fail.
And I saw a beautiful tree, and its fragrance was like that of the mastic.
And by the banks of these valleys I saw fragrant cinnamon. And beyond those valleys I came towards the east.
And I saw another mountain on which there were trees, and there flowed out water, and there flowed out from it, as it were, a nectar whose name is styrax and galbanum.
And beyond this mountain I saw another mountain, and on it there were aloe trees, and those trees were full of a fruit, which is like an almond, and is hard.
And when they take this fruit it is better than any fragrance.
And after these fragrances, to the north, as I looked over the mountains, I saw seven mountains full of fine nard, and fragrant trees of cinnamon and pepper.
And from there, I went over the summits of those mountains, far away to the east, and I went over the Red Sea, and I was far from it, and I went over the Angel Zotiel.
And I came to the Garden of Righteousness, and I saw beyond those trees many large trees growing there, sweet smelling, large, very beautiful and glorious, the Trees of Wisdom, from which they eat and know great wisdom.
And it is like the carob tree, and its fruit is like bunches of grapes on a vine, very beautiful, and the smell of this tree spreads and penetrates afar.
And I said: “This tree is beautiful! How beautiful and pleasing is its appearance!”
The following scriptural passage is beneficial:
And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:
And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. (Exodus 30:34-36)