The Key to understanding God’s plan of redemption and fellowship with the Lord is understanding“faith!”

God offers His forgiveness of sin and a place in heaven as a gift; this gift is called “grace.” It is a free gift; however, we must, by “Faith,” accept the gift and allow Him to transform us to become more like Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

What does the writer of Hebrews mean when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God?”

What Is Faith?

Faith means believing in things we can’t see yet. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It’s like trusting that the sun will come up tomorrow, even though it’s still night. Faith means spiritual sight.

Abraham showed strong faith when God promised him a vast family, even though he and his wife, Sarah, were barren and very old. Abraham believed God would keep His promise, and he was right! God gave Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, when Abraham was about 100 years old! This kind of trust is what God wants from us.

This kind of trust is not based on emotions or feelings; it is based on choosing to believe God’s word. Once we have made the decision, we must act or perform according to the decision. A phrase I often use in my life is the following: “I don’t want to be a legend in my own mind!” This means that I may have noble and courageous thoughts, but if I don’t do what God has called me to do, I let God down, let myself down, and those around me. 

Walking by faith produces righteousness in us. Faith is the key to being close to God. For example, in the Bible, Abraham trusted God so much that God said he was “righteous,” which means he was living the right way. Listen to what Romans 4:3 says,” For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” So, when we believe what God has said and act on it, we are called righteous.

Now see what God saw in Abraham; Romans 4:19-21, “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”Abraham believed what God said, even when it seemed impossible. Because of his faith, God blessed him. 

We must decide that, since we have a God for whom nothing is impossible and we belong to Him, nothing is impossible for us if God has called us to it; the Lord always equips those whom He calls.

What does “diligently seek Him” mean?

Let’s come back to Hebrews 11:6 and look at the second part of the verse, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

What does the writer of Hebrews mean when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he says, “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him?” Remember, we know that God wants to dwell with us and have fellowship with us. It’s clear that the Lord makes the first move towards us; it is equally clear that the Lord wants us to make a move towards Him. 

This is not just a one-time desire for God, as when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, but it is a careful, determined, and attentive desire to have a relationship with Him; for God is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” 

The Lord always makes the first move. We can see that as we examine how the Lord God demonstrated His desire for fellowship and relationship with His people throughout the Bible, we also pay attention to the work of His Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament “Fire and Cloud,” and the Tabernacle/Temple.

In the book of Exodus, we see that God led the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage by guiding them through the path of escape. His Presence was with them as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. What an incredible journey that must have been, to follow by faith that the Lord was with His people. There came a time when the Lord wanted to be among His people in the camp. To accomplish that, He instructed the people to build a Tabernacle, which was a moveable tent where His Presence would be. Later, the Lord would direct the people to build a permanent Tabernacle, and then it would be called The Temple.

In Exodus 25:8, the Lord said, “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Up to this point, the Lord appeared as a cloud by day and fire at night; now, He wanted a closer relationship.

The Tabernacle was not just about a portable building. The Tabernacle was a visible sign that God was dwelling among His people. His presence, symbolized by the cloud and fire, went with Israel wherever they traveled. 

Exodus 40:34–38 tells us that the pillar of fire was over the Tabernacle at night and the cloud was over the Tabernacle in the day. If the cloud did not move, neither did the people. To “dwell with” meant that God wasn’t distant—He was sharing life, guiding, protecting, and making covenant fellowship with them in their daily journey.

Exodus 31:1-5 demonstrates another important teaching for us. “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.” Here is the lesson, “only the Holy Spirit of God can enable or empower people to build the Tabernacle of God.” 

New Testament Tabernacle/Temple- the Believer

You are the Temple of God. He lives in you. Let the Holy Spirit of God build His dwelling place in your life.

1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” The Apostle Paul is bringing to the attention of the Corinthian Believers that they have the Holy Spirit, the “helper,” living within. Sometimes we need to be reminded or remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit lives within us.

As New Testament or New Covenant Believers, God doesn’t just live among His people, but within them. Every Believer of Jesus Christ has the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. “Indwelling” here means God sharing our lives, continuously empowering, comforting, correcting, and guiding us from within. It’s a permanent, intimate presence.

Here are three New Testament scriptures that confirm this truth.”

• Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” Immanuel is translated, “God with us.” Matthew was recalling a Messianic prophecy from the book of Isaiah. Jesus is our Immanuel, God with us.

• John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus shared meals, traveled, taught, and wept with His disciples. Dwelling here meant sharing real life together—not a quick visit but living side by side. The disciples experienced God’s presence in the ordinary rhythms of life because He “dwelt with” them in person.

• Jesus said in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Today God doesn’t just live among His people, but within them. “Dwelling with” here means God shares our lives continuously empowering, comforting, correcting, and guiding us from the inside out. It’s a permanent, intimate presence. Jesus said in John 14:16-17, “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.”

Some practical ways to grow in your awareness of God dwelling in you.

Our priority is to “go all in with Jesus.” Here are some thoughts about learning how to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

1. Water baptism – Jesus said to do it.
2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit – Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as a promise.
3. Worship during church service. Don’t be a spectator but a participator.
4. Bible reading, New Testament first, start in the Gospel of John
5. In Christian music, there is a style for every taste. 
6. Christian radio, TV, streaming
7. Join a bible study
8. Get involved with church/Christian activities
9. Volunteer at church/Christian events

Practical Application Today

In practical terms, “Dwelling with” God means inviting His presence into everyday life—like eating with Him in gratitude, walking with Him in prayer, working with His guidance, and resting in His peace. Just as Israel lived with God in their camp, and the disciples lived daily life with Jesus, we are called to live each moment aware that He is right here with us. 

Finally, don’t forget Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God always keeps His promises; we just need to learn how to “…walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

• 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.