char·ac·ter
/ˈkerəktər/
noun
the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
"running away was not in keeping with her character"
As I’ve written before, when Paul is writing in Romans 11 about the olive tree and the ingrafted branches … the fruit, the olives on the tree of Jesus … are the character of the believers. In union with the olive tree, your character in Christ is nourished simply by REMAINING and RESTING in the roots of the tree. You don’t create this character of the new creation, Jesus does as YOU abide and receive His nutrients.
Yet. As your character (olive) is pressed by love, heart birthed desire, the world, persecution, or your own circumstance, that’s where olive oil – or the Holy Spirit flows from. From your character, good works flow like oil.
It’s out of one’s FAITH and CHARACTER that both healing and miracles flow.
In fact, many people want to walk in the miraculous, but they don’t see the full picture. The Holy Spirit cannot pour through you that which your character (morality) cannot support, or you’d be crushed under the weight of the responsibility.
Character is everything.
Unknowingly, this is why evil uses people to falsely assassinate one’s character. It’s not so much to tarnish the public reputation as it is to squish that minister’s view of self. Yes, the intent is to undermine the character within the minister.
If evil can shave away the character WITHIN an individual, you can kill off or frost freeze the fruit.
Why?
It’s like this. If that minister argues back, fights with people, defends himself, gets angry, takes things personally, or even takes cheap shots at others … character (morality) is compromised. Miracles wane, healing slows.
Evil WANTS to get YOU into arguments, and frankly it DESIRES you to draw ministers into hostile territory. You become the agent of burnout, apathy, and the exit of ministry.
I’d simply say this. Before you judge a minister/ministry because you don’t like what they teach or you just don’t agree with all that they say … look at the character or fruit, not the doctrine.
Otherwise, the kingdom suffers. Don’t be a character killer.