The Relationship Between Character and Anointing in Christianity
There is a vital relationship between the character of a Believer and the anointing in the Believer that is often overlooked. It is all too common to focus on either character or anointing, rather than both. This problem in Christianity goes back to the saying, “With the Word (Bible) only, you dry up. With the Spirit (anointing), only you blow up. However, with the Bible and the anointing, you grow up.
Growing up to be the person God created you to be in the image of Jesus Christ is our goal as disciples. When Jesus walked the earth, His disciples and followers had the advantage of learning from Him directly. They walked with Him, talked with Him, and lived with Him.
Jesus knew that He would be leaving His followers and that they would scatter without Him. Jesus made it very clear that the Father would not leave us as orphans when Jesus was gone, but that He would give us a “Helper,” the Holy Spirit, to guide us into becoming disciples of His. The early followers of Jesus had Jesus to help them grow mature; today, we have the Holy Spirit of God to help us grow into mature Christians.
- John 14:16-18, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
- John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
- John 16:7, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
The word Helper in these three verses is the Greek word paraklētos, which means an intercessor, consoler, advocate, or comforter. Another way to look at the word helper is “one just like me,” therefore, the Holy Spirit is just like Jesus. When Jesus ascended into heaven in the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit descended to live in the Believer. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” To be a witness means to testify to what Jesus has done for you through the Holy Spirit. You see, it is not about you, but it is about what God has done through you.
1. Character and Anointing
Character refers to a person’s moral and spiritual qualities, such as integrity, humility, patience, faithfulness, and obedience. It is shaped over time through surrender to God, discipline, and growth in Christlikeness. Character development is the part of the Christian walk that involves a change of mind. The word repentance fits here because repentance means to change direction due to a shift in perspective. The greatest change in mind is when you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You went from not believing to becoming a Believer. Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
As a result of your faith, you became a new creation; 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Because you are a “new creation,” this is how the “new creation” looks and behaves: Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” These are the character traits of a mature Believer. However, you cannot accomplish this without the help of the Holy Spirit; this is where the anointing comes in.
Anointing refers to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to carry out God’s work. It is often associated with spiritual gifts and divine enablement for ministry, such as preaching, healing, or leading. I love this definition of anointing by my good friend Dr. Frank Parish of World MAP. “The Anointing is none other than the Person and presence of the Holy Spirit, bringing with Him the necessary power, authority, and gifts to fulfill the Father’s will in a given moment of ministry or assignment.”
It would be easy to think that the anointing is for ministry only; that would be a mistake. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is also needed to shape us as disciples of Christ. The most significant work of the Holy Spirit is the transformation it brings to the individual. As we pursue Jesus in our relationship, we become more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
You see, our role model is Jesus! We are called to become more like Jesus every day, as stated in Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
As we pursue the Bible the Holy Spirit anointing will teach us everything we need to know for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible is a spiritual book and its truths can only be understood by a spiritual Believer, 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.” (Amp.)
The good news is that you are anointed. 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
2. How Character and Anointing Differ
Character is built through time and testing; it reflects who you are in Christ and can be measured by the fruit of the Spirit. One measure of character is that it is the same in public as it is in private. In other words, they are the same wherever and whatever they do. I am sure you have seen people who are fakes or hypocrites. They are like chameleons, changing their character depending on who they are with. The best judge of character is often a family member; they know who you really are. As the Bible teaches, “you shall know them by their fruits.”
On the other hand, the Anointing is available from God for God’s work. First, to help you develop the character of Christ, and second, to use in some ministry work. Unfortunately, many think the anointing is only for ministry, well, your life is a ministry field too.
It reflects what God does through you and is measured by the power and results it produces. A changed life is a powerful testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit or the anointing. The Anointing can be misused without character; perhaps you have seen or experienced a person who is very powerful in one area and falls short in another. Just keep in mind that we are all “works in progress.”
3. How do Character and Anointing Relate
Character supports the anointing. Without godly character, a person can mishandle or corrupt their anointing. Character keeps a person grounded and prevents pride, manipulation, or burnout Proverbs 11:3, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.”
Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” As you can see, it’s the character that the Lord is looking for.
Anointing without character is dangerous. God may choose to use someone powerfully even if their personal life is out of order, but eventually, a lack of character can cause public or private collapse. Look at the life of Samson in Judges 13–16.
God develops character before increasing anointing. Often, God tests and refines a person in private before giving them public influence or spiritual authority, as seen in David tending sheep before becoming king.
1 Samuel 16:13, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.”
Psalms 78:70-72, “He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; 71 From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”
4. Biblical Examples
Joseph: Had dreams (anointing), but had to develop character through betrayal, slavery, and prison before becoming second to Pharaoh (Genesis 37–50).
Jesus: Though fully anointed, He demonstrated perfect character—serving, obeying, and suffering willingly (Philippians 2:5–11; Hebrews 5:8).
Paul: Operated in powerful gifts, but emphasized character, saying love (a character trait) is greater than any spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).
5. Application and Warnings
Balance is key. A Christian should seek both the anointing and Christlike character. Power without purity leads to destruction; purity without power may lack effectiveness.
Spiritual maturity includes both. Ephesians 4:11–13 describes the goal of ministry as growing into the fullness of Christ—not just in gifts, but in godly living.
Beware of charisma without character. In modern times, some leaders have great gifts but fall due to pride, sin, or lack of accountability. Their fall brings dishonor to the Gospel.
6. Conclusion
Character is the foundation that sustains the anointing. The Spirit may anoint a person, but it is godly character that keeps them effective, humble, and faithful over the long haul. Christians should never pursue power without also pursuing purity. When both are present, the believer becomes a trustworthy vessel through whom God can do great and lasting work, 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
It is not Anointing or Character but anointing and Character that produces the righteousness of God.