Are you an Opportunity or a Resource for the Holy Spirit?

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Welcome back! I am your host Dawn Simmons and in this episode of Conquering Our Unseen Enemies we are going to talk about how we are preparing ourselves to be used by the Holy Spirit.  This is part of our discussion on the Spiritual Gifts, how you wonder? Well, specifically, we are going to talk about whether we are an opportunity or a resource the Holy Spirit can use.  You might think they both sound good but as we dig in deeper you will see that they are nothing alike and we should be striving to be one much more than the other. So let’s dig in. 

As always, let’s discuss our Top Show points: 

·      Discussed how we are preparing ourselves to be used by the Holy Spirit.  

·      This is part of our discussion on the Spiritual Gifts, as we discussed whether we are an opportunity or a resource the Holy Spirit can use.  

·      Opportunity: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something

·      Resource: a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. 

·      1 Corinthians 12:4, Lists the gifts of the Spirit 

·      Develop our gifts so that these gifts are a part of who we are and we can use any and all of them as needed, as directed.  In doing this, we become a resource, more than just an opportunity.  

·      God can use anyone, anything, at anytime, doesn’t even need to be a believer.  

·      Numbers 22:21. Story of Balaam and his donkey and how God used the donkey as an opportunity to get Balaam’s attention and direct him what He wanted him to do and not do

·      The donkey was used in a miraculous way.  We are not desiring to be the donkey, we are desiring to be like Jesus, where we move and do as the Holy spirit directs us and nothing limits us. 

·      Acts 10:9, Story of Peter receiving a vision on a rooftop and being directed to go with the men who were coming for him.

·      Peter then shared the gospel message and all of Cornelius’ family were saved, so many that Peter was there a few days.  The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius’ family the same as it did at Pentecost with them speaking in tongues and praising God.  

·      The difference here is Peter developed his relationship with the Holy Spirit, he took time out of his day to pray. He also received the interpretation of the vision and was obedient to the Holy Spirit.

·      Peter gives us an example of obedience.  

·      This is the life we want to be living.  When we are living in this way, the enemy cannot move in our lives.  He can attack, but when we are that in tune with the Holy Spirit in our lives, the enemy will not be able to gain traction.  

·      Alexandria Troas, in modern day Turkiye.  Paul on his way back from Macedonia headed to Jerusalem but stopped for 7 days in Alexandria Troas.  If you want to what this city looks like today, check out our YouTube channel, Life Journey with Dawn Simmons this week. 

·      Acts 20:7, Story of Eutychus falling out the window, dying and Paul raised him from the dead.

·      Paul was able to be a resource and bring him back to life.  That is a miraculous event.  They saw it more frequently in the first century than we do now, but it could still be done, it requires a supernatural level of faith and the presence of the Holy S