"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
The Greek word "phaneroo" translated in the NKJV as "diffuses" means make manifest. Defined in the English dictionary, diffuse paints additional richness to this text well worth elaborating:
Diffuse: to pour in every direction, scatter; used as an adjective: wordy
My first thought was from the verb "pour" which is fluid in nature where there is no objection, obstruction or a stop-n-start to things, but going with His flow. This is in keeping with the Holy Spirit in us who is described by Jesus in fluid terms: "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" or "out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water" and "a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God" (Jn.4:14; Jn.7:38; Ps.46:4).
Song of Solomon speaks of us as an enclosed garden, and a shut-up fountain UNTIL…God is given His way with us: "Awake, north wind, and come, south wind. Make my garden breathe out, let its fragrance flow…" (SOS 4:16 ISV).
In other words, our former nature before the fall, was fluid and that from a peaceable positioning with the God of all peace. Our inability to have peace is from a carnal nature of boundaries, borders, restrictions, reasonings, etc. (read Acts 17:26-27). From these boundaries we attempt to answer things beyond our comprehension that only God understands and governs over effortlessly. The world and life in general are greater than us. On the other hand, when we are born of the Spirit by complete concession of heart to Him, we are then positioned to know and learn (abide) Him who is greater than the world. Here, in Him, His peace is then ours!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Prov.3:5-6).
Now, a second thought is with respect to the adjective "wordy" and the cliché of "a picture is worth a thousand words." We, from the outset of our new birth are made in another likeness that is heavenly by nature. We become a strange, alien picture to those around us and our willingness to be led by the Spirit from our deadness and darkness into His life and light, leaves others to be curiously estranged from us. It is a wordy message the Lord diffuses even from the very mouths of others who stand in astonishment of our faith, thoughts and actions that contradict the world.
"…they [unbelievers] think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you" (1Pet.4:4).
When I first began in the pastorate many moons ago, I taught the Word of God as the Lord opened it in my hearing - to be led by it in faith. In obedience to His lead, I experienced the Lord affirming His Truth and Way with me and it became food for the flock of God as it was first to me. That fragrance of Life working in me had His desired effect with increase. However, my youthful concern in knowing the condition of my flock caused me to become excessively wordy. I wanted to make sure each person understood my message from their place of understanding as I knew them. One day my pastor addressed me: "Brother, you don’t need to teach what you have in so many directions to meet what you think is everyone’s understanding. Just give it as you heard it from the Lord. He will disperse it and they will all be fed out of that one thing you bring. After all, He fed more than five thousand with five loaves and two fish."
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: 'He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.' Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2Cor.9:8-10).
May you catch wind that God is more than able to scatter, expand, and pour out through you in word and in deed - knowing by faith the flow He has for each one of us. Let Him lead and He will open your garden and unstop your well releasing and diffusing His fragrance of life in every direction as one triumphant in Christ!
- Pastor Dave
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