Jesus said , The words I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life

Some say that since the words in the Bible are Christ's, to read them is the same as to have heard him speak words from the Spirit and Word within each man's heart. But Christ said: “The words I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life, John 6:63;” he does not say the written words, much less the scriptures or writings, are spirit and life. When Christ himself speaks to a soul, his words are spirit and life to that soul, for spirit and life are in his words, when he speaks them. But when another reads or speaks them without his spirit, they minister neither spirit nor life. For instance, Christ's calling to Lazarus when dead and buried, “Lazarus come forth;" his words were spirit and life to Lazarus. But let another read or speak the same words to a man dead and buried, and cry to him to come forth, and they will not raise him to life. (From A Christian Progress). The letter kills, but the spirit gives life. For an in depth writing on this subject, see My Sheep Hear My Voice.