 Since
the 16th century this lichen has been used in making perfume. Extracts
from this lichen act as a fixative to maintain the perfume's fragrance.
Evernia rebranches once every year. By counting the series of branching
points, you can estimate how old this little plant is. |
 These
giant moths have a wing span up to 10 to 12 inches. Male and female moths
have an amazing system of finding each other. The female has a perfume
that the male can smell as far as 2 miles away. Humans are not able to
detect this fragrance with their noses yet the male Atlas moth has been
designed by God in a way to smell this perfume. |
  Perfume
is something you cannot see but it draws. People love to smell the
flowers. Only God knows how to make the flowers open with so many
different delicate fragrances. |
|
God's Perfume
|
 Jesus
wants His perfume to be in all the world. As His people go out to tell of
His love and how Jesus died on the cross, it draws all people. As
they pray for those who need to find truth and be converted, all heaven
fills with this perfume. The perfume is invisible yet it is wonderful.
Jesus asks us to go into all the world and share the truths found in the
Bible. He wants you to do this. He asks me to do this. Let's ask Him for
His perfume every morning so we can draw many to His kingdom.
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations...and lo I am with you always." Mathew 28: 19 & 20 SONG |
  Every
Christian is like a precious stone that catches light from the glory of
God and reflects it. As they reflect it, they also get a blessing. The
more a person tries to explain the Bible to others, the plainer God's Word
becomes to them. It is divided into small enough parts like the parts of
the light. The different parts can be seen like a rainbow. This is like
the light of God divided up so we can see the different parts.
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Mathew 5:13-16 Every true believer catches the light from heaven and takes it to those in darkness. They shine in their own neighborhoods, cities, counties, state, and to countries beyond their own.
There will be little children preaching and surprising the most educated of the adults. Maybe you are one of those children. Have you ever wanted to preach? God will lead you and help you know just what to say. Read your Bible and Pray for the Holy Spirit to draw people to the truth. |
  Those
who drink from the truth in the Bible, enjoy it so much they want to
share. |
Baking a loaf of bread and giving it is someone is another way to share God's love perfume. When you show love, people want to hear what you have to say. |
| Sewing clothes for others is a way that a lady named Dorcas did in the Bible. The whole city loved her. When she died, they called for Peter to pray. Peter prayed and Dorcas lived again. God answered the prayer of Peter for a lady who would again go to work helping others. She was a beautiful example of giving God's love. My mom and sis love to sew for others. Mom sewed many dresses for orphanages. (Acts 9:36-39) |
  Playing
beautiful sacred music is one way to share.
God asks all who have been drinking from His fountain of the water of life to lead others to that fountain. This is done by sharing the treasures you find. It would be like a beautifully wrapped silver box of encouragement to them. |
| Alabaster box of perfume
Jesus told them to leave Mary alone for she had done something very special for Him. Jesus said that wherever the gospel was preached, the story of the gift of this lady would be told. Her love was a treasure to the heart of Jesus. When He felt lonely through the seven court trials and mob action on Him, He remembered her love. It was like a promise to Him that there would be people who would value His gift to us. There would be people who could really say thank you with all that they had. This people would be like HIS PERFUME. (Mathew 26) |
  God's
perfume will be so fragrant people will want to hear what you have
experienced. |
Throwing rocks into water is really fun. The ripples just keep going and
going. These ripples are like your influence. After you have helped
someone learn of Jesus, they help others learn. When they share with their
families, it spreads out over the sea of people on this earth like the
ripples spread from your rocks. Your rock is like the gospel message you
share. |
| Quiz
How far away can an atlas moth smell the female's perfume? What kind of plant is used in the process of making perfume? What is God's perfume? What was used in the sanctuary to make incense? (4 kinds) What does Jesus do with your prayers? What does the rock and ripples represent in the illustration of throwing rocks into water? What did the prism teach us about what we are to do with light? What does light symbolize? What was the lady's name who sewed for everyone? Can you think of ways to be God's perfume? What's Living Water? How do you share Living Water? |
God has his own favorite fragrance. 
Remember
in lesson 11-13 we discussed the sanctuary? Also in a whole section
by itself is the sanctuary topics. The altar of incense is where the
priest offered prayers for the people while they were praying. He had to
use a mixture of incense of stacta, galbanum, onycha, and frankincense.
These were not to be used for anything else or God would punish with
death. These four types of incense combined to make a fragrance that
people could smell outside God's tent as far as 2 miles. The symbol
describes what God does when you pray. Jesus mixes His pure character with
yours. He interprets what you say into the language of heaven. He knows
what your heart really wants. The result is a most wonderful perfume. God
is drawn to you and what you need. Your prayers are like the best, most
delightful perfume to Him. Your prayers smell sweet. Don't worry what it
sounds like, just pour out your heart and He understands. Prayers are like
the incense. They are perfume to Him.
We
are in the last days. God said in Joel 2:28 that He would pour out His
Spirit on all people and even the young children and youth would be having
visions and dreams. They are expected to share them. They must preach from
the Bible.
Mary
saved up her money and bought some very expensive perfume in an alabaster
jar. She heard her beloved Jesus say He was going to die. In those
days, the dead were prepared for burial with expensive perfumes. Mary
wanted to show Jesus her gratitude. She loved Him deeply for how He prayed
for her when she was possessed by seven demons. She loved Him for
forgiving her sin of having many lovers. She in sweet abandon gave a huge
gift. As she heard Jesus talk, she hoped He would not die but be king on
earth. She decided to pour out her gift into His hair and onto his feet.
She did it quietly with tears of joy and thanks falling with the perfume.
She wiped it dry with her hair. The perfume was noticed by all. It was so
wonderful. Judas and others in the room criticized her for wasting her
money on Jesus. He missed the point. He did not have any thankfulness in
his own heart. He just wanted a good job in the new kingdom.