The gifts of THE SPIRIT are vital to the Body of Christ, but we must operate in a Christlike character!
In the past, I have seen many men operating in the gifts of The Holy Spirit, including myself. Spiritual gifts and operate through the immature believer. When that happens, that believer must be extremely careful not to exalt that gift and allow the ego to infiltrate the ministry. If anything, the believer must focus on spiritual maturity of his or her character.
Spiritual power is not the same as spiritual maturity!
What is character?
Character is who you become.
Character is not a gift.
Character is formed through:
- obedience
- surrender
- trials
- repentance
- perseverance
- daily walking with Christ
Paul describes this as the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit is:
- Love
- joy
- peace
- patience
- kindness
- goodness
- faithfulness
- gentleness
- self-control
Fruit is singular because it describes one Christ-like character expressed in many ways. Unlike gifts, fruit is expected in every believer.
Gifts are received instantly whereas character develops over time.
A believer may receive a spiritual gift immediately after conversion.
For example:
- prophecy
- healing
- discernment
- evangelism
But maturity develops slowly.
James writes:
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.”
(James 1:4)
In 2nd Peter chapter 1: 5-7, Peter likewise teaches believers to add to their faith:
- virtue
- knowledge
- self-control
- perseverance
- Godliness
- brotherly affection
- Love
And in verse 8:
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gifts can exist without maturity.
This is one of Paul’s strongest warnings. The church at Corinth operated in many spiritual gifts.
Paul says:
“You do not lack any spiritual gift…”
(1 Corinthians 1:7)
Yet he also tells them:
“I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 3:1)
They had:
- prophecy
- tongues
- miracles
Yet they also had:
- division
- jealousy
- immorality
- lawsuits
- pride
This demonstrates a very important principle:
As Paul pointed out, Spiritual power is not the same as spiritual maturity.
5. Love is more important than gifts
Immediately after teaching about spiritual gifts, Paul writes the great chapter on Love.
1st Corinthians chapter 13:
He says:
If I speak in tongues…
without Love—
I am nothing.
If I prophesy…
without Love—
I am nothing.
If I understand all mysteries…
without Love—
I am nothing.
If I have mountain-moving faith…
without Love—
I am nothing.
Notice, Paul never minimizes the gifts. He simply teaches that character determines their value. Love is the motive that makes every gift useful.
Jesus warned that gifts alone prove nothing
One of the most sobering passages is in Matthew 7:21-23.
Many will say:
Lord, did we not
- prophesy?
- cast out demons?
- perform miracles?
Jesus does not deny they did these works. Instead He says: “I never knew you.”
Their ministry exceeded their relationship.
Their power exceeded their Holiness.
Their gifts exceeded their obedience.
Character mattered more than spectacular ministry.
Moses illustrates character. Moses spent forty years being prepared before leading Israel. God repeatedly described him as humble.
Numbers 12:3 says: “Now Moses was a very humble man…”
His authority flowed from his relationship with God.
On the other hand, Samson illustrates gifts without character.
Samson possessed extraordinary supernatural power. The Spirit came upon him repeatedly.
Yet he lacked:
- self-control
- obedience
- purity
- humility
His gifting exceeded his character.
Eventually his sin destroyed his ministry. How many times has that been the case with well-known ministries in recent years!
Joseph illustrates character before promotion.
Joseph received dreams (a gift).
Before ruling Egypt, God developed:
- integrity
- patience
- forgiveness
- humility
- wisdom
The gift came early, but character building took years. When promotion came, Joseph could carry it faithfully.
Jesus perfectly united gifts and character.
Jesus never ministered merely through power. Everything He did flowed from:
- Love
- compassion
- humility
- obedience
- Holiness
He healed, He cast out demons, He raised the dead.
Yet He also:
- washed feet
- forgave enemies
- served the poor
- obeyed the Father completely
Power and character were perfectly united.
A helpful comparison
| Gifts of the Spirit | Fruit/Character of the Spirit |
| Given by God | Developed with God |
| Enable ministry | Reflect Christ |
| Can appear quickly | Grow over time |
| Vary from believer to believer | Expected in every believer |
| Demonstrate God’s power | Demonstrate God’s Nature |
| Benefit others | Transform the believer |
| Can function despite immaturity | Indicate spiritual maturity |
The New Testament encourages believers to seek spiritual gifts:
“Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…”
(1 Corinthians 14:1)
But in the same verse Paul places the higher priority on Love:
“Pursue Love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…”
The order is significant:
- Pursue Christlike character.
- Desire and use spiritual gifts faithfully.
- Let every gift operate through Love, humility, and obedience.
A mature disciple is not simply someone who displays supernatural gifts, nor someone who merely exhibits good moral behavior. Scripture presents the goal as believers who increasingly reflect the character of Christ while faithfully exercising the gifts the Holy Spirit has given for the building up of the Body of Christ.
When the fruit of the Spirit governs the gifts of the Spirit, the Church is strengthened, God is glorified, and Christ is accurately represented to the world.