Unlocking the locked away

So here is a little mind wandering caused in part
by the reading I have been doing by George Muller
(I spoke about this in my last post)....and partially by thoughts and questions that have been
hanging around for years.
I am sure if you have walked a walk with God for awhile....... you too have had the opportunity to wonder why the body of Christ is not openly displaying the power of God.....on a consistent basis. When I say power.....I mean that evidence of God at work in us and through us. That power should be evident in the powerful use of the gifts God has given the body.
What are we missing?
I have often wondered about that.
And then you read the scripture below.......
"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith" (Matt 13:58).
.................and it seems to hold a piece of the puzzle.
So when the Bible tells me that scripture is profitable to be used for teaching, reproof and correction......I can stand on the fact that the above scripture holds the answer
or at least part of the answer.

And hopefully you can follow my thoughts as I tie in a quote from George Muller about the early days of his Christian growth......

God Himself has condescended to become an author, and I am ignorant about that precious book, which His Holy Spirit has caused to be written through the instrumentality of His servants, and it contains that which I ought to know, and the knowledge of which will lead me to true happiness; therefore I ought to read again and again this most precious book, this book of books, most earnestly, most prayerfully, and with much meditation; and in this practice I ought to continue all the days of my life. For I was aware, though I read it but little, that I knew scarcely anything of it. But instead of acting thus, and being led by my ignorance of the word of God to study it more, my difficulty in understanding it, and the little enjoyment I had in it, made me careless of reading it (for much prayerful reading of the Word, gives not merely more knowledge, but increases the delight we have in reading it); and thus, like many believers, I practically preferred, for the first four years of my divine life, the works of uninspired men to the oracles of the living God. The consequence was, that I remained a babe, both in knowledge and grace. In knowledge I say; for all true knowledge must be derived, by the Spirit, from the Word. And as I neglected the Word, I was for nearly four years so ignorant, that I did not clearly know even the fundamental points of our holy faith. And this lack of knowledge most sadly kept me back from walking steadily in the ways of God. For it is the truth that makes us free, (John viii. 31, 32,) by delivering us from the slavery of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. The Word proves it. The experience of the saints proves it; and also my own experience most decidedly proves it. For when it pleased the Lord in Aug. 1829, to bring me really to the Scriptures, my life and walk became very different. And though even since that I have very much fallen short of what I might and ought to be, yet, by the grace of God, I have been enabled to live much nearer to Him than before.

Me again.....
I am left with a certain understanding after reading the words of this great man of God. A greater awareness after earnestly searching the word.............of the little key that was offered to us in this verse below.

Romans 10:17--Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

My faith comes when I willing to hear the message
that comes through the words of Christ--the Bible. And as that faith grows......so will come the release of the power of God.

I have thought for a while now about all the Christian books out there.
And although I know that they have a purpose and a place..............
I can't help but wonder if they aren't becoming a tool...... a tool used by the enemy to influence a generation that will be filled with weak milk mouthed Christians.
Babes walking around hardly able to walk.....and unwilling to pick up the very Words of life and power given from our Father. Words that would build and strengthen our faith so that the power of Jesus would be released.

I love what Muller says about reading the Bible and how it should be done........earnestly, prayerfully, and with much meditation.

I also like the fact that if I will prayerfully read it......the joy in reading it will grow.
I think we have all experienced this at one time or another.
If you have never experienced this.....and I have been there......talk to someone.
We are told in the Word that the WORD is active and alive......its
purpose is to touch and change you and me.
And you should feel that change.....and others should see that transformation.
And I do realize that we
can have times when the Word feels alive and then sometimes it's just dry feeling. And if you are like me you have been tempted to stop reading the Bible....and I have at times.

We have been talking through some steps to reading Gods word in our Sunday school class.
We talked about why people don't read the word--
1. You don't believe it
2. You don't understand it
3. You have harbored sin

You know if I am truly honest number three has been the greatest obstacle in my life.
I have a little something I don't want to let go of.....and how can I even bare going into the Bible holding on to yuck. So I stop reading. And then I become detached.....heart, soul and spirit.
I am coming out of this stage.

And right now God is bringing sources to me that keep pointing me to the fact that I need His word. Word that will grow my faith and produce more faith in my life.

So you will probably be hearing more about this as I walk this out.
I don't want there to be any limitations of God's power at work in my life or through my life.

Thanks for walking this thing out with me. I know that God is going to do some great things in my life in this area. I believe He has offered me keys that will unlock doors that have been shut for generations. But it is going to require something on my part.
One by one He is holding out the keys....will we take them?

If you feel like sharing I would love to hear where you are right now in your walk with The BOOK.

I am praying for you as we walk the straight and narrow together.