– Character sustains what charisma can’t.
We live in a world that celebrates gifts loudly, but the Spirit grows fruit quietly.
Gifts can open doors. Gifts can draw crowds. Gifts can impress for a moment.
But it’s fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—that keeps you standing when the applause fades.
The gifts of the Spirit are powerful and necessary. Scripture reminds us not to neglect them (1 Corinthians 12). But even stronger is the truth that without fruit, gifts can become empty performances.
Fruit is grown, not given.
Character is cultivated, not downloaded.
Anyone can look anointed for a night. It’s fruit that shows you’re anchored for a lifetime.
Gifts can make people want to follow you. Fruit makes people safe staying near you.
Gifts can make you seem wise. Fruit makes you actually trustworthy.
Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16).
Not by their gifting. Not by how many people clap. Not by how well they speak in tongues or prophesy.
By their fruit.
Character is not optional for those who carry calling.
Character is not “bonus material” for those with visible gifts.
Character is what sustains the weight of the very gifts we pray to walk in.
If charisma is the flame, then character is the oil.
One burns fast and bright.
The other burns long and steady.
It’s not that God ignores gifts. It’s that He knows fruit comes first.
He knows gifts without fruit can turn dangerous—either to others or to the one who carries them.
He cares too much about the people around you—and about you yourself—to let your gift take you where your character can’t keep you.
If you’re frustrated in the waiting…
If you feel overlooked while others flash and shine…
If you’re growing slower than you hoped…
Take heart:
You’re not being forgotten.
You’re being formed.
Fruit comes before gifts because God is far more interested in who you’re becoming than how well you can perform.
Your life was never meant to be built on the shifting sands of charisma.
It was meant to be rooted in the unshakable soil of Christlike character.
And when fruit comes first, the gifts—when they come—are no longer heavy to carry.
They are carried with Him.
And you won’t have to worry about keeping the doors open that God calls you through.
Your fruit will do the talking for you.
Related Posts:
- The Stronghold Might Be Spiritual—Not Situational
- You Were Called for This—Even If You’re Afraid
- Stop Apologizing for Your Healing
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Accounts Manager and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
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Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr.
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Accounts Manager and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.