If you want to build a church that satisfies God's heart, you must seek to please God in every area. God wants to lead you in triumph in your personal life, not once in a while, but daily. It won't be in your strength. God Himself will lead you in triumph in Christ - always. A true servant of God will be able to testify: "Thanks be to God who always leads me in triumph in every single place, and manifests through me the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ." (2 Cor. 2:14) It was the fragrance of Christ that came through Paul wherever he went - and not his own fragrance. And so God got all the glory.

But for some people, Paul was a fragrance of death (2 Cor 2:16). Not everyone appreciates the full-gospel message. One would think that everyone should be delighted to hear the message of victory. But many do not like the message, because it shows up their sin.

When Jesus came manifesting the life of God, many hated Him and put Him to death. Many Christian leaders are the same today. They do not like their love of money, their love of honour and their defeated life at home, to be exposed by the message of constant victory. And so they will hate you if you preach that message. They will hate you because you are shining a light on their sins. If someone was committing a robbery in the darkness and you shone a flashlight at him, he would hate you.

A true servant of God shines the flashlight of God's Word into the dark corners of people's hearts. Those who love sin will hate him and call him a false prophet and heretic - because he exposed their sin. But those who are groping in the darkness, looking for the safe path, will be thankful to him, because they can now see the way. So there are two reactions to the light. Some hate it and some are deeply thankful for it. Jesus fills us with the Holy Spirit and manifests His power and His triumph through us everywhere. Some will be thankful for us and others will hate us. But thereby the true condition of each person will be revealed.

2 Cor. 2:17 is a word that all Christian workers should take heed to: "We are not like many people who peddle the word of God." To " peddle the word of God" is to sell it for money. What Paul is saying is that "we are not like other preachers who are making money out of preaching God's word." All who serve the Lord should be able to say at the end of their lives, " I did not spend a single day of my life preaching God's word in order to make money". Let the vegetable vendors and sellers of earthly goods peddle their wares for money. But we do not peddle the word of God. We serve others freely, expecting no gifts or payments for our services. As the Lord gave us everything freely, we too give everything freely to others. Such is the dignity of a true servant of God.