SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Is Character Important?
Parts 1 & 2 — The Gifts of the Spirit and the Character of Christ
Can someone be spiritually gifted and still lack godly character?
We desire to see the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in our churches.
We want to witness healings, miracles, prophecy, and the supernatural power of God.
But there is something we must never overlook in our pursuit of spiritual gifts.
The importance of godly character.
The gifts of the Spirit are wonderful.
But they were never intended to replace holiness, humility, love, or a faithful walk with God.
THE CENTRAL QUESTION
Are we becoming more like Jesus Christ while pursuing the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
PART ONE
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTER
1. Understanding Spiritual Gifts
What are they, where do they come from, and why are they given?
1 Corinthians 12:1–12 (NKJV)
Verse 1: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
Verse 2: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
Verse 3: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Verse 4: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Verse 5: There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
Verse 6: And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
Verse 7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Verse 8: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
Verse 9: to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
Verse 10: to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
Verse 11: But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Verse 12: For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
2. Spiritual Gifts Are Not Natural Gifts
Understanding the difference
Many people are born with natural talents.
Some are gifted musicians, teachers, speakers, or leaders.
These abilities can be developed and used for God’s glory.
But natural abilities and spiritual gifts are not the same thing.
WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
Spiritual gifts are special, unearned abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers in Jesus Christ.
Their purpose is to:
- Serve others.
- Build up the church.
- Glorify God.
- Benefit the body of Christ.
Spiritual gifts originate with the Holy Spirit.
They are distributed according to His will.
3. Operating in the Prophetic
Learning to recognize the voice of God
When operating in the prophetic, we may experience something in several ways.
We may:
- See it.
- Think it.
- Know it.
We cannot manufacture genuine prophecy through human effort.
But we can grow in recognizing God’s voice and becoming sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
This requires relationship.
It requires prayer.
It requires spending time in God’s presence.
And at times, it requires fasting.
Stop Drinking From Someone Else’s Bucket!
“Surely you are tired of putting your straw in someone else’s prophetic bucket!”
There is nothing wrong with receiving encouragement or ministry from another believer.
But we should not be satisfied with depending entirely upon someone else’s relationship with God.
We should desire to know Him personally.
To recognize His voice.
To be sensitive to His Spirit.
I want to be the one in the flow!
4. The Corinthian Church
Spiritually gifted, but spiritually troubled
The Corinthian church was familiar with spiritual gifts.
Yet it struggled with serious problems.
Among their struggles were:
- Jealousy
- Strife
- Drunkenness
- Pride
- Self-centeredness
- Self-serving behavior
Paul did not tell them to abandon spiritual gifts.
He did not say, “Stop all this crazy gift stuff!”
Instead, he instructed them on how to operate in the gifts correctly.
THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE GIFTS.
THE PROBLEM WAS THEIR CHARACTER.
Why Is the Love Chapter in the Middle?
First Corinthians 13 is often called the Love Chapter.
It appears between Paul’s teachings on spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14.
That placement is significant.
Paul wanted believers to understand that spiritual gifts must operate through love.
A person may possess remarkable spiritual abilities and still fail to demonstrate Christlike character.
Spiritual ministry should be marked by:
- Integrity
- Love
- Humility
- Faithfulness
- Holiness
5. Character Before Performance
What does God look for in spiritual leadership?
When Paul instructed the church concerning spiritual leaders, he did not tell them to find the person who prophesied the best.
He did not say to choose the one who spoke in tongues the loudest.
Instead, the qualifications emphasized godly character.
Godly leadership requires:
- Holiness
- Faithfulness
- Self-control
- Integrity
- Accountability
- A consistent walk with God
Many ministries have been damaged by unchecked pride, moral compromise, and the absence of accountability.
Spiritual gifting is never a substitute for spiritual maturity.
6. Growth Without Depth
The danger of outward success without inward maturity
John Stott used three words to describe a serious concern in the modern church.
“Growth without depth.”
Churches may attract people through entertainment, programs, and impressive presentations.
But attracting a crowd and developing mature disciples are not the same thing.
A church must do more than grow numerically.
It must develop believers who know the Word of God.
Believers who understand biblical truth.
Believers who demonstrate Christlike character.
Are we building impressive churches, or are we building mature disciples?
7. The Danger of an Unworthy View of God
A. W. Tozer wrote:
“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.”
Idolatry is not limited to worshiping carved images.
We can also develop an unbiblical understanding of God’s character.
Our culture has conditioned many people to think about God in ways that diminish His holiness, authority, and majesty.
We must return to a biblical understanding of who He is.
And that brings us to the words of Micah.
PART TWO
WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF US?
The foundation of godly character
Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
God reveals three essential requirements for His people.
1. DO JUSTLY
Live righteously and fear the Lord.
2. LOVE MERCY
Demonstrate compassion toward others.
3. WALK HUMBLY
Remain dependent upon God and obedient to His Word.
REQUIREMENT ONE
DO JUSTLY
Living righteously in the fear of the Lord
To do justly means to do what is right according to God’s standards.
It means living with integrity when others are watching.
And when no one is watching.
But righteousness must be rooted in a genuine reverence for God.
8. What Is the Fear of the Lord?
John Bevere describes the fear of the Lord as:
- Holy awe.
- Deep reverence.
- Profound respect for God’s holiness.
- Recognition of His absolute majesty and power.
He emphasizes that fearing God is not simply being afraid of punishment.
It involves loving and reverencing Him so deeply that we dread being separated from His presence.
We must never lose our respect for the majesty of God.
Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The fear of the Lord is foundational to spiritual wisdom.
We can become familiar with church services, spiritual language, and ministry responsibilities while gradually losing our reverence for God Himself.
That is a dangerous place to be.
9. Jim Bakker’s Warning
Loving Jesus while losing the fear of God
John Bevere has recounted a conversation with Jim Bakker concerning his spiritual failure.
According to the account, Bakker explained that he had never stopped loving Jesus.
But he had stopped fearing Him.
He went further, suggesting that millions of Christians may profess love for Jesus while having lost their fear of God.
CONSIDER THIS QUESTION
Have we become so familiar with the things of God that we have lost our reverence for God Himself?
Love for God and reverence for God belong together.
A genuine love for Christ should produce a desire to honor Him.
To obey Him.
And to live in a manner pleasing to Him.
VIDEO ILLUSTRATION: John Bevere and Jim Bakker — The Fear of the Lord
The Importance of Accountability
No believer, regardless of calling, influence, or gifting, should consider himself beyond correction.
Accountability protects us from:
- Pride
- Moral compromise
- Self-deception
- Misuse of spiritual influence
- Isolation from godly counsel
The fear of the Lord should produce humility, obedience, and a willingness to receive correction.
REQUIREMENT TWO
LOVE MERCY
Compassion that is willing to pay the price
Micah did not merely instruct us to show mercy.
He told us to love mercy.
Mercy should not be something we offer reluctantly.
Or only when it is convenient.
It should become part of who we are.
Loving mercy means:
- Caring about the suffering of others.
- Loving people who are hurting.
- Serving even when it requires sacrifice.
- Putting others before personal recognition.
- Desiring to see God’s compassion reach broken lives.
10. Kathryn Kuhlman: The Burden of Ministry
Kathryn Kuhlman is remembered for her dependence upon the Holy Spirit and the healing services in which many people testified of receiving miracles.
She spoke of dying a thousand deaths before going onto the platform.
She carried a tremendous burden for the people who came seeking God’s help.
Many were desperately ill.
Some were facing life-threatening conditions.
They were not simply attending another religious gathering.
They were looking to God for mercy.
VIDEO ILLUSTRATION: Kathryn Kuhlman — The Burden of Ministry
11. One More Time
An illustration of mercy and sacrificial ministry
One moving account describes Kathryn Kuhlman’s final service at the Shrine Auditorium.
Her physical health was failing because of an enlarged heart.
According to the account, she was so weak backstage that she had to hold onto the curtain just to remain standing.
Yet her desperate prayer was:
“Please give me the anointing just one more time. Please.”
Her body was exhausted.
Her strength was failing.
But she wanted to stand before those hurting people and minister one more time.
She desired for God’s mercy to reach them.
What Can We Learn?
Ministry is not about:
- Personal recognition
- Public applause
- Impressive performances
- Building a reputation
- Becoming spiritually famous
Ministry is about people.
It is about loving them enough to serve.
It is about caring for the hurting, the broken, and the desperate.
It is about doing what is right even when it costs us something.
Spiritual gifts should never become instruments of self-promotion.
They should be used to serve others and glorify God.
REQUIREMENT THREE
WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
Living in dependence upon His Word
Humility is essential to spiritual maturity.
It reminds us that everything we possess comes from God.
Our abilities, our calling, our understanding, and our spiritual gifts are not reasons for pride.
They are reasons for gratitude.
12. Ray Stedman’s Tuning Fork Illustration
What’s the good word for today?
Bible teacher Ray Stedman told a story involving the question:
“What’s the good word for today?”
Consider a tuning fork calibrated to A440.
When struck, it produces the musical pitch A at 440 hertz.
Musicians use this standard to bring their instruments into tune.
The tuning fork does not change its pitch to accommodate an instrument that is out of tune.
The instrument must be adjusted to the standard.
The Spiritual Application
The Word of God is our standard.
- Culture may change.
- Opinions may change.
- Feelings may change.
- Circumstances may change.
- Human philosophies may change.
But God’s truth remains our foundation.
We do not change Scripture to fit our lives.
We must bring our lives into alignment with Scripture.
13. Knowing Scripture Means Knowing Christ
“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
Our vision of Christ and our understanding of Scripture go hand in hand.
The poorer our vision of Christ, the poorer our discipleship will become.
If we desire spiritual maturity, we must continually develop a fresh and accurate biblical understanding of Jesus.
Why does this matter?
- We cannot imitate a Christ we do not know.
- We cannot develop biblical character without biblical truth.
- We cannot mature spiritually while neglecting God’s Word.
- We cannot properly represent Jesus if our understanding of Him is distorted.
Do we look like the Christ we proclaim?
BECOMING CHRISTLIKE
THREE WAYS WE MUST REFLECT JESUS
The Christian life is not simply about attending church.
Learning doctrine.
Or exercising spiritual gifts.
It is about becoming increasingly like Jesus Christ.
We are called to be Christlike:
- In His incarnation.
- In His service.
- In His mission.
Philippians 2:5 (NKJV)
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,”
Paul calls us to adopt the attitude and mindset of Christ.
14. Christlike in His Incarnation
Entering the world of others
Jesus Christ came into our world in human flesh.
He did not remain distant from humanity’s suffering.
He entered our world.
He came among the hurting, the broken, the rejected, and the lost.
Jesus entered our world.
We are called to enter theirs.
Following His example requires:
- Leaving our comfort zones.
- Reaching people where they are.
- Demonstrating genuine compassion.
- Being willing to serve those who are different from us.
- Humbling ourselves for the sake of others.
Christ’s incarnation demonstrates radical humility.
Are we willing to enter someone else’s world so they can encounter Jesus through us?
15. Christlike in His Service
The King who became a servant
Philippians 2:7 (NKJV)
“but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Jesus willingly took the position of a servant.
He did not seek earthly status or recognition.
He humbled Himself.
John 13 — Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
In John 13, Jesus demonstrated extraordinary humility by washing His disciples’ feet.
The Lord and Master took the place of a servant.
He showed that genuine greatness in God’s kingdom is expressed through humble service.
What does Christlike service look like?
- Serving without demanding recognition.
- Helping people without expecting repayment.
- Placing the needs of others above personal ambition.
- Refusing to use spiritual influence for self-promotion.
- Demonstrating love through practical action.
The gifts of the Spirit are not given to elevate us above others.
They are given so we can serve others.
16. Christlike in His Mission
Continuing the work of Jesus
Jesus came with a mission.
He proclaimed the gospel.
He ministered to the broken.
He demonstrated compassion.
And He ultimately gave His life for the salvation of humanity.
As His followers, we are called to continue that mission.
Meeting Physical Needs
- Caring for the hurting.
- Helping those who are struggling.
- Demonstrating practical compassion.
Meeting Spiritual Needs
- Praying for others.
- Encouraging those who are discouraged.
- Ministering through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Preaching the Gospel
- Sharing the message of salvation.
- Calling people to follow Jesus Christ.
- Making disciples rooted in biblical truth.
The mission of the church is not merely to gather people into a building.
It is to make disciples and demonstrate the love and truth of Jesus Christ to the world.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
SPIRITUAL GIFTS MUST REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST
God is not simply interested in what we can do for Him.
He is interested in who we are becoming in Him.
We should desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We should pray for God to use us.
We should seek to hear His voice and become sensitive to His leading.
But we must never allow the pursuit of spiritual power to overshadow the pursuit of godly character.
What We Must Never Forget
We Need
We Also Need
Spiritual gifts
Spiritual maturity
The anointing
Accountability
Faith
Humility
Spiritual power
Love and compassion
Ministry opportunities
Personal holiness
Church growth
Biblical depth
Spiritual experiences
Intimacy with God
The Corinthian church demonstrated that spiritual gifting and spiritual maturity are not automatically the same thing.
Paul did not reject the gifts.
He taught believers to exercise them properly.
In love.
And for the benefit of the entire body of Christ.
THE FINAL CHALLENGE
DO JUSTLY. LOVE MERCY. WALK HUMBLY.
DO JUSTLY
Live righteously.
Walk in integrity.
Honor God with your conduct.
Maintain a holy reverence for His majesty.
LOVE MERCY
Serve compassionately.
Love the hurting.
Care for people.
Demonstrate God’s mercy even when it requires sacrifice.
WALK HUMBLY
Remain dependent upon God.
Submit to His Word.
Welcome correction.
Seek to become more like Jesus every day.
A QUESTION FOR EVERY BELIEVER
Are we merely seeking to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, or are we allowing the Holy Spirit to develop the character of Christ within us?
May we become believers who are both spiritually empowered and deeply rooted in God’s Word.
May we never settle for growth without depth.
May we never become so occupied with ministry that we lose our intimacy with God.
May we walk in the fear of the Lord.
Love mercy.
And remain humble before Him.
And may the world see not simply our gifts, but Jesus Christ living through us.
Scripture References
- 1 Corinthians 12:1–12 — The Gifts of the Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 13 — The Importance of Love
- 1 Corinthians 14 — The Orderly Operation of Spiritual Gifts
- Micah 6:8 — Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly
- Proverbs 1:7 — The Fear of the Lord
- Philippians 2:5 — The Mind of Christ
- Philippians 2:7 — Christ the Servant
- John 13 — Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
Teachers, Authors, and Historical Illustrations
John Bevere • Jim Bakker • Kathryn Kuhlman • Ray Stedman • John Stott • A. W. Tozer
Editor’s note: Historical anecdotes and attributed quotations are retained from the lesson notes and should be verified against original sources before publication.
Spiritual Gifts — Parts 1 & 2
A study on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the necessity of godly character, and the calling to become like Jesus Christ.