7 Characteristics of a Man Open to the Spirit

I often wonder what it is that makes a person open to receiving from the Spirit of God. In Acts 13, we read how the disciples were continually being filled with the Spirit. In many accounts, we notice a wide range of people from less to more open. Peter had not yet finished his preaching and the house of Cornelius received the Spirit and started speaking in tongues, while others had heard the gospel but had no clue on receiving the Holy Spirit. John and Peter had to go to them to lay hands so that they can receive.

So, I thought of making a list of major characteristics of a person open to the Spirit of God, based on my own experience. I'm sure it doesn't cover everything but touches on some major points. I hope this list will be an encouragement and a challenge to help you pursue and cultivate a character after God's own heart, through the grace given us in Christ. So here it goes;

1.    Lover of God

This comes first on the list. I know that it is He who first loved us. And I am not talking about loving God in a religious sense, but rather when loving God is something we practice and live off on. It has to do with the position of the heart and the way we use God's gifts and grace. A son of God loves God not just emotionally but responsibly as the son of the house and heir to the throne. A lover of God is someone always seeking God’s presence and His glory, all, of course, relying on the grace given through Christ.

2.    Repentant and Forgiving Heart

I cannot stress enough the importance of having this virtue and medal on our chest as a trademark of excellence. To excel in forgiveness and repentance is like having the advantage of being ahead in the race and being able to afford to slow down and see things never otherwise discoverable.

3.    Truth Seeker

Many mistakenly think that once they have come to an ounce of the knowledge of the truth, they have gained it all. They miss out on so much. A truth seeker is open to the greatness of God in spite of… In spite of his or her past experiences with God, In spite of degrees, knowledge, spiritual gifts, theology, etc. A truth seeker goes beyond the seen, the traditions, wisdom, and praise of men. A truth seeker relies on the Holy Spirit to give revelations and lives off those revelations, understanding full well that revelation is given not only for knowledge but also for power and glory.

4.    Passionate Personality

This is a person who loves with all his being and might, just like Jesus said. Paul says that he labored more than all the other apostles, yet not he but the grace of God working in him. Being involved in ministry, loving on people and serving them is an open invitation to the One who is responsible to supply the love and power to accomplish His work. Among the deacons or servants in the church, Stephen was a passionate person; full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), and thus full of grace and power, performing miracles among the people (Acts 6:8). Notable Jews used to argue with him but could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit had given him (Acts 6:10). His face shone like the face of an angel as Jesus welcomed Him standing up in heaven, as Stephen was being stoned as a martyr. People on fire with the passion of God break away from the boundaries of this fallen world, as they live heaven on earth by the Holy Spirit.

5.    Visionary

The visionary lives in the vision, in the future and stays expectant of the next level. Living in the past is unbearable torment. Paul never stayed put. As he wrote to Timothy and the others, he always spoke of the burden on His heart and His vision regarding his apostolic trips. The Holy Spirit spoke to the church in Antioch instructing them to set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work of the ministry. Being a visionary creates a free mindset and compels the Holy Spirit to support the visionary, as he moves into his destiny.

6.    Sojourner

The sojourner understands that life is a journey and being stagnant is death. He or she actually enjoys his or her journey and regenerates himself/herself like the eagle, knowing very well that this world is not our home forever, but a new home a new creation, a new regeneration awaits the entire creation. A sojourner lives under the rule of the Kingdom of God that is not of this world. He/she relies on the Holy Spirit for provision and finds satisfaction in Him alone.

7.    Renewer of the Mind

With the changing times and seasons, we need to stay Christ-centered. Because it is in Him and through Him that we have our being. He is the culmination of everything. The entire world is in His hands. He is the sustainer of life, the alpha and the omega… and everything in between. Unless we are people who renew our minds continuously with this eternal truth, we will miss out on what God is doing and even fall in the trap of mistaking God for Satan like the Jews did with Jesus... Renewing our minds is a process that can only take place with the Word of God and I do not mean the Bible exclusively, although the Bible is a very efficient and useful means. I am talking about Jesus, the Son, the Logos. He is the all in all. When we make meditating on Him, becoming lost in His presence a habit, we will find ourselves being led by the Spirit, as He raptures us and takes us to places where He wants to use us. We may have a devotional life or a life of prayer, but unless we practice a contemplative prayer/ conversation parallel reality throughout the day and in our times alone with God, holding thoughts captive and subduing them to Christ in the meantime, we may not actually benefit from the incredible grace made available to us.