The bible often likens those in sin and without redemption to being “prisoners” for example (Galatians 3:23) and those who are saved and presented with the revelation of Christ as “liberated”. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

I don’t know why anyone would purposely choose imprisonment over liberation. Of course there’s many reasons people reject the truth but ultimately It’s blinding by the enemy to the light of the gospel that keeps people imprisoned. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

It’s not enough to dutifully plod through the scriptures reading and analyzing and theorizing about God. We need the Holy Spirit to show us the truths that are in the bible through divine revelation and supernatural anointing. God through the spirit breaths on his word making it alive for us. As Paul points out there are those who read the Bible and don’t get it. (2 Corinthians 3:14-15) But their minds were blinded… But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. He goes on to say though in the next verses that when the spirit of the Lord is the only one who will remove that blindness giving freedom.

I had a friend who grew up the son of a preacher, he heard many messages from his dad and went to church on a regular basis but sadly the word never seemed to stick in his heart and he didn’t know the love of Jesus.

I believe to be effective for Christ we must ask the Holy Spirt God to breath revelation through us and through his words to those in need and allow God to do the hard work of changing them. We could preach until we’re blue in the face but without the power of God we will accomplish little.