I was wondering what was stinking. Is there a gutter close by? Could it be a dead rat somewhere, an exposed soak away or a leaking sewage from a broken pipe? The stench was much and I am personally allergic to odour. I was restless and nauseated as I surf the internet in the school’s café. I felt like vomiting. All windows were shut, as the café was AC tight. I could not find a solution to the problem until the man who was sitting beside me left. Lo and behold, he was the one exuding such disgusting odour. I was immediately relieved. Then, I kept wondering how an elderly, well-dressed individual would be emitting such ionizing radiations of reek. What could have been the cause? Could it be a health problem or a demonic attack?
There are many myths about body and mouth odour. However, the one that readily came to mind, as I thought about this man, was that of improper washing at birth. When a child is born physically into the world, the child is expected to be thoroughly washed. In fact, there are situations where certain specialists are traditionally employed to wash newborns so that they can be clean. It is believed that if the child is not properly washed at birth, the child caries the odor all his/her life. Could it be that this man’s case was due to this omission at birth?
This portends a great spiritual implication. Many believers today have “body odour” in the spirit. You just know that something is not right about the brother or sister even though he claims to be born again. The spiritual stench is palpable. You can discern that something somewhere in his/her life is not straight. I have come to realize that this syndrome may be due to an omission at birth; many believers were not properly washed when they were born into the family of God. They were spared of the hyssop by the contemporary midwives who do not want them to cry because of the brunt of the sponge.
Many a saint today still carries the scent of the old man. You wonder why certain believers are not free from the hold of sin, Satan, self and world even though they are born again. Something about them is just creepy. Their garment is yet spotted with flesh. They still carry all around the taints and the wrinkles of worldliness, lust, anger, pride, and the likes. The unfortunate thing is that this spiritual reek has become normal flora with many of them. They cannot perceive their own stench.
Judas Iscariot was the Treasurer of Jesus International Ministries (JIM) in Israel. He was signatory to the ministry’s account. Jesus cannot withdraw money from the ministry’s account except Judas counter signs the cheque. Much more, Judas was anointed. He had been part of many evangelistic outreaches of Jesus. He had preached eloquently and convincingly with hundreds running out for altar calls. He had bashed demons out of people, raised the dead and healed the sick. He has also seen raw miracles performed by Jesus. He saw how thousands were fed with five loaves of bread and two fishes. He saw him walk on the sea and many others. He had reached the apex of ministerial breakthrough but concerning this man Jesus said, “‘People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you.’ Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, ‘except for one of you.’” (John 13:10-11)
He was washed but he was not clean. I guess it was an omission at birth. There was no way Judas would have been found among the disciples if was not born again. There was no doubt about his birth; what was spooky about him was his washing at birth. He was not clean. One can still palpate the revolting stench of the sinful nature. He was a thief (John 12:6). Like Joshua the high priest on whose right hand Satan stood because he wore a filthy garment, the dirt in Judas’ life attracted demons to him. Eventually, Satan got a chance and entered into him (Luke 22:3; John 13:27).
Friend, I hope you are not emitting spiritual odour. Are you clean? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? Was your washing thorough at birth?
While it is good to give altar calls, I have come to realize that this “raise up your hand and come to the altar” gospel has not helped much. I cannot count how many times I have raised my hands and went to the altar but it did me no good until I reported personally to the Great Physician. That was when I began to know the victory in the name and the blood of Jesus. 
Judas thought he could subdue the spiritual odour he was emitting with the body sprays and perfume of church activities. He was never sincere! Peter did not hide his instability hence the Lord was able to help him and pray for Him. The sifting reed became the solid rock on which the church was built. Nathaniel was sincerely wrong. He was the Israelite in whom there is no guile.
Thomas did not hide his doubts. He frankly told the rest of the disciples when he was told the Lord had appeared to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20:25 NIV). Jesus was compelled to reappear so that Thomas will be helped.
Philip was very objective. He did a critical analysis of every situation even when he was expected to apply his faith. Jesus did not despise him because he was sincere, but how will God help an insincere man? One could have thought Judas was speaking from a caring heart when he rebuked the woman who seemed to be wasting a precious ointment on Jesus. However, the Bible made it clear that he did not care for the poor. He rebuffed the woman’s action “not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it.” (John 12:6). He missed his opportunity to be completely cleansed from the stigma of stench. He eventually betrayed his Lord, sold Him for 30 pieces of silver and committed suicide. He lost his life and ministry eternally and he was thereafter replaced.
I believe this is a timely word from the Lord Himself to the church, His Bride. This is a call for us to check our garments. He is sending this word as water to wash us from every spot or stain. He wants to sanctify and cleanse us so “that he might present (us) to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that (we) should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27 KJV). Let us sincerely report our case to the Great Physician. Let us expose every dark spot in our hearts. Stop using empty perfume of activities; they are temporal. Ask Him to heal you of every odour wherever it may be hiding. This is what He says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”Remember, “nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter (the new Jerusalem). No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there.” (Revelation 21:27 CEV).