Obvious In 1747 Dr. James Lind was trying to discover a cure for a disease that was weakening, disfiguring, and killing thousands. The people would become weak, their joints would ache, their skin became spotted with bruises and raised red spots, their gums bleed, and their teeth fell out. Eventually most died from the long-term effects. He did a controlled experiment. He took 12 sick patience and paired them into 6 groups. They were all daily fed identical meals but each group was given a different daily supplement as follows: 1. Quart of apple juice 2. Sulfuric acid & aromatics 3. 6 spoonfuls of vinegar 4. Mixture of herbs & spices 5. Half-pint of sea water 6. 2 oranges & 1 lemon Group 6 recovered within six days and group 1 improved but did not recover completely. There was no improvement in the others. It was discovered that the terrible disease Scurvy was caused by a lack of vitamin C. Humans, other primates, and guinea pigs are unable to produce Vitamin C but without it they cannot live, therefore it is necessary in their diet. It doesn’t matter if you live in the finest mansion or a lowly hut, every human must deliberately choose to include Vitamin C in their daily diet or live a sickly life. Vitamin C is readily available through certain vegetables and all fruits yet there are people who live in our country today that suffer a mild form of scurvy. They may be eating well but they are not eating the things that will give them Vitamin C. What does this have to do with you and Christianity? Is Christianity today healthy, vibrate, effective, and fruit bearing. Or is it suffering from a mild form of spiritual scurvy. What is the missing ingredient? Jesus is our example and He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. . .” (John 5:19). The presence (will) of God was essential for Jesus. The presence (will) of God was essential for the people of God in the Old Testament. The Ark of the Covenant represented the manifest presence of God with His people. As long as they were in His will He was with them. The ark always went before them. We cannot self-produce the presence (will) of God but it is absolutely necessary. If Jesus could do nothing of Himself but only what He received from the Father, how much more must we be in His presence (will). When the cloud of God’s Presence moved, the people broke camp and followed Him. The question I ask myself is, “Am I still following or am I camped seeking Him to return to where I am? We can have the finest buildings, the greatest pastors, the best worship leaders, and great scriptural teaching but without being in His will, His Presence, we are weak and ineffective. Churches are feeding their people scriptures, some more than others. Basically they are all on the same diet but something is definitely missing because we see few Christians come to maturity and as the Body of Christ we are not showing forth the Fullness of Jesus. As a matter of fact the majority of Christians look little different than the world. We have come up with some supplements. To name a few: Small groups Purpose Driven Lives Conferences & Seminars Video Clips Power Point Presentations Promotions & Slogans Cover Dish Suppers Special Speakers Revivals Sermon Series Classes Leadership Training & Equipping Guidelines, Policies, & Procedures Intercessory Prayer Meetings Spiritual Warfare Focus Healing Counseling & Inner Healing And the list could go on and on. I am not saying that all or any of these are bad but without His Presence, which comes as we stay in His will, we will find ourselves weak, ineffective, and not growing to maturity. The obvious – “Inside the will of God there is no failure but outside the will of God there is no success.” (Anonymous)
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