Gifts vs. Anoinitng

Gifts, Character, and Anointing
There are times in my life where God will speak things to my heart through relentless waves of thought.
These thoughts come when I wake up, when I go to sleep, and all throughout my day.
Whenever this happens I assume that God is up to something in me and wants to burn a thought
into my heart for permanent residence. The last two weeks I have found myself continuously reminded
of the emphasis God places on the balance of character, gifting, and anointing in the life of a believer.
For years I have been asked how such great ministry leaders can operate in the power of God,
and then months; weeks, or even days later, find themselves caught up in some of the most unbelievable kinds of sin.
Often, we do not realize what is meant by the “gifting and calling of God” being “without repentance”. (Romans 11:29)



When God places His gifting in us, it is something He does not take back, even when we use that gifting for selfish gain.
(Phil. 1:12-18) We must acknowledge that even on our best days God is still using us in spite of us.
In all our obedience, faithfulness, and integrity, we still fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
What does that mean in a practical sense? What it means is that gifts are given by God, they are not earned.
We do not move mightily in the power of preaching, teaching, prayer, healing, or even miracles because of anything
we have done. God gives the gifts to His people as He sees fit, (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
and equally important to mention is that gifts never validate right standing with the Lord.
Gifts are given in spite of us, and even someone in disobedience can operate in the gifts for God for a season.
When a believer operates in the gifts of God, while walking in the character and integrity of God,
is when real impact occurs. It has often been said, “gifts will get you there, but character will keep you there”.

How many great preachers and teachers have risen to incredible influence,
only to fall because of an unrepentant posture toward sin in their lives?
God’s mercy will be extended for a season when we struggle with hidden sins,
(Psalm 90:8) but without true repentance our sin will ultimately hinder our relationship with God
and our effectiveness in the call of God on our lives. The Bible says that our sin will find us out. (Num 32:23)
God will deal first with our hearts privately trying to bring us to repentance.
If we do not turn, He will then expose us within our own family.
If we still choose to remain in sin He exposes us within the church family, and then ultimately to the world.
At each level His desire is to bring us back into right relationship with Him,
but if we refuse Him at each level then He takes our sin to the next level to be dealt with.

I cannot say loudly enough that gifting does not validate right standing or right relationship with God.
Gifts are given, but fruit grows. Gifts are a result of His grace in our lives,
but the fruit of character is the result of our obedience to a great and Mighty God.
Gifts are graciously poured out on each one as it pleases Him,
character is to be walked out to maintain the integrity of the gifts.
Ultimately, gifts are given, but fruit grows. When gifts are present and where character exists,
real anointing can arise.

Anointing is what truly empowers ministry in the life of a believer.
As an illustration, imagine a cup full of water, held in our hand.
Gifts are represented by the cup, character is the hand that holds the cup steady,
but anointing is the refreshing that is poured out from the cup for the blessing of all mankind.
Whereas gifts are given, and character (the fruit of the Spirit) grows in us,
the anointing us something that comes from spending time with God.
We do not earn anointing when we seek the Lord, but through spending time with Him and abiding in Him,
His favor and anointing come on our lives. The more time we spend with Jesus,
the more we will see His anointing being poured from our cup of gifting.

The book of 1 John chapter 2 speaks of the importance of abiding in Him.
It claims that we “have the anointing from the Holy One”, and goes on to say
that “the anointing which you have received abides in you.”
Are there prerequisites mentioned for the anointing to abide within us?
The key is in 1 John 2:28. It declares that His children should “abide in Him,
that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
What a great promise! If we abide in Him, we will never be ashamed.
The Bible goes on to say that if we abide in Him we will ask whatever we want and it will be done. (John 15:7)
How is this possible with all the lust and greed in man?
How could God make a Biblical promise that those who abide in Him will ask whatever they desire
and it will be done? The answer lies in the fact that when we spend large amounts of time
in the presence of Jesus, we begin to desire what He desires,
and we begin to ask for the same types of things He asked the Father for while He was on earth.
The more we look like Christ, the more the Father can pour anointing into our lives
because our goal is not to pursue our own desires, but that His will might be done through us.

When we spend time with Him, we become vessels He is willing to empower with His anointing.
The key to longevity and effectiveness in ministry call is the balance of character, gifting and anointing.
Since gifts are given, little emphasis needs to be placed on pursuing this aspect of our ministry call.
Sadly, this seems to be where most believers focus their efforts.
Rather, let us spend our time and energy on the growth of character in our lives,
and the pursuit of His anointing which comes only by spending time in His presence.

May we be hungry for His presence, and seek Him in all that we do.

Dennis Lacheney