But
their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in
the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in
Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on
their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is
taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of
the Lord is,there is liberty.
2
Corinthians 3.14-17
Words are not enough. Jesus said:
The
words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 6.63
Its not just those exact words, its those
words that I (Jesus) am speaking now. It is only where the Spirit of Jesus is,
that there is freedom to understand. If I quote the sermons of Jesus, I won't
necessarily have the same effect as Jesus.
Now I know an atheist could read the Bible
out loud to mock it, and people can still get saved, but the reality is that
someone somewhere must have invited the Spirit of God. Maybe an old lady
praying at the back of the meeting, maybe a local prayer group, but one thing
is certain, that the word without the Spirit will not bring life. The seven
sons of Sceva discovered this when they tried to use Paul's words without being
filled with the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 19). Paul made it clear that we are:
ministers
of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter
kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2
Corinthians 3.6
Words are not only not enough, they can
kill! This is why we MUST be filled with the Spirit! When Steven spoke to
the pharisees in Acts 7, they were cut to the heart because Steven was a man
"filled with the Holy Spirit". So the Spirit could take the word and
convict the people. They had to "stop..their ears" precisely because
their ears had been opened. The Spirit had opened deaf ears through the spoken
word of God.
