Not long ago, I encountered a situation that left me reflecting deeply on the state of the church today. I met a man who was supposedly regarded as gifted in revival ministry. Yet, even before we had the chance to get properly acquainted, he began speaking negatively about his own pastor. Though I remained silent outwardly, I could not ignore the troubling questions that began to stir in my heart.
It made me wonder: Which truly carries more weight in the life of a believer – spiritual gifts or spiritual fruit? Why would someone considered a minister of revival speak in such a way against the shepherd God has placed over him? Could this really be the Spirit’s work, or is there something deeper here that requires discernment?
What Matters Most
The Apostle Paul wrestled with these very questions in the church at Corinth. The believers there were fascinated with gifts – prophecy, tongues, healing, and miracles. Paul did not dismiss these as unimportant; he affirmed them as good and desirable. Yet he pointed them to something greater: the way of love. He wrote, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).
This is the heart of the matter: gifts without love, without fruit, are hollow and empty. Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not momentary displays of ability but the steady evidence of Christ’s character formed within us.
Gifts display ability, but fruit reveals maturity. Gifts may attract attention, but fruit sustains relationships. Gifts can stir excitement, but fruit builds unity in the body of Christ. Gifts may one day pass away, but fruit endures into eternity. Which, then, is more valuable in God’s sight? The answer is unmistakably clear: the fruit that reflects Christ’s life within us.
Honoring Our Spiritual Leaders
Another important truth that Scripture emphasizes is how we treat our leaders. Paul urges believers to acknowledge and respect those who labor among them: “Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other” (1 Thessalonians 5:13).
To speak ill of a pastor – or of any leader God has placed over His people – runs directly against this biblical counsel. James warns us: “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged” (James 5:9). Hebrews 13:17 exhorts us to submit to leaders so that their work may be a joy and not a burden.
Revival cannot flourish in an atmosphere poisoned by criticism and division. Wherever the Spirit is present, He brings life and peace – not discord.
Guarding Against Division
As my conversation with this man continued, I noticed something even more troubling. There was a claim that all revival speakers in Nagaland come from the Asian Theological Association (ATA), while graduates of the Senate of Serampore College (University) supposedly are not used in the same way. Such a statement is not just a personal opinion; it risks creating a spirit of superiority and division within the body of Christ.
Scripture makes it abundantly clear: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4–6). The Spirit of God is not bound to one institution, denomination, or degree. He works through whomever He chooses.
To suggest that one theological stream has a monopoly on revival diminishes the freedom of the Spirit. Jesus reminded us that the Spirit “blows wherever it pleases” (John 3:8). Church history is filled with men and women whom God used powerfully – some with advanced training, others with very little. What mattered was not the institution they belonged to, but their obedience to Christ and the fruit of their lives.
Paul confronted the same problem in Corinth when believers divided themselves by saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas.” His piercing question was, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:12–13). In the same way, elevating graduates of ATA over Serampore – or Serampore over ATA – is nothing more than another form of human pride.
The true work of the Spirit is always marked by humility, unity, and mutual respect – not exclusivity or boasting. Philippians 2:3 reminds us: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Revival will never flourish where rivalry and arrogance are allowed to take root.
Testing the Spirits
The Apostle John warns: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Jesus Himself declared, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16).
Notice the emphasis: not by their gifts, but by their fruit. Gifts can be impressive, and even imitated. Fruit, however, is the enduring mark of Christ’s presence in someone’s life.
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:16–25. Criticism, jealousy, rivalry, and division are clearly works of the flesh. Love, peace, kindness, and gentleness are the unmistakable evidence of the Spirit. This remains the real test of whether someone is truly Spirit-led.
Lessons from the Corinthian Church
The Corinthian believers lacked no spiritual gift, yet Paul still called them immature. They spoke in tongues and prophesied, but they quarreled, boasted, and divided themselves. Their giftedness did not excuse their lack of godly character.
This is a sobering reminder for us today: a person may possess remarkable spiritual gifts and yet still walk in immaturity. Without love, gifts are hollow. Paul concludes with clarity: “These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
The Danger of Gift-Centered Christianity
Sadly, today’s church often mirrors Corinth. We admire dynamic preachers, powerful singers, and gifted leaders. Yet we must pause to ask: Do they show the fruit of the Spirit? Do they embody Christlike humility, patience, and gentleness?
If we exalt gifts above fruit, we risk building personality-driven faith, where people follow individuals more than Christ. We risk division, as pride and criticism fracture the church. We risk shallow discipleship, where maturity is measured by outward performance rather than inner transformation. Worst of all, we risk deception, mistaking dramatic gifts for divine approval.
Jesus’ sobering words in Matthew 7:21–23 echo here: many will claim to prophesy, cast out demons, and perform miracles in His name, yet He will say, “I never knew you.”
Christ, Our Model of Ministry
The perfect model of Spirit-filled ministry is Jesus Himself. He carried divine power, yet walked in humility. He taught with authority, yet stooped to wash His disciples’ feet. He healed multitudes, yet welcomed children and outcasts with tender compassion.
His ministry combined both gifts and fruit, both power and character. Paul urges us to follow His example: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).
A Pastoral Reflection
This reflection is not simply about one man’s words. It is about all of us. Are we in danger of being more impressed with spiritual gifts than with the fruit of the Spirit? Do we genuinely honor the leaders God has placed over us, or do we slip into subtle patterns of criticism?
Every believer is called to cultivate both gifts and fruit. Gifts are for service; fruit is for character. Together, they glorify Christ.
Peter writes: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10). Our gifts are not for self-exaltation but for service. Our fruit is not for show but for witness.
Words carry weight. Criticism tears down, but encouragement builds up. Even in disagreement, Scripture calls us to respond with humility, respect, and prayer.
Conclusion
This experience reminded me of an essential truth: true spirituality is not measured by how many meetings we attend, how eloquent our speech may be, or how large a crowd we attract. It is measured by how much we resemble Christ in our daily walk.
Spiritual gifts are valuable and necessary, but without the fruit of the Spirit they are empty shells. Paul declared, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).
Let us not be deceived by appearances. Let us honor those God has placed in leadership, test everything by Scripture, and above all, seek to be people whose lives overflow with the fruit of the Spirit. For in the end, it is not the gifts we display, but the fruit we bear, that proves we truly belong to Christ.
May we be a people rooted in love, shaped by humility, and filled with both gifts and fruit – so that Christ is glorified and His church united.
Meyu Changkiri
