From time to time, I jokingly tell my senior pastor that when I came to join his ministry staff 24 years ago, my hair was red and my eyes were white. Now, my hair is white and my eyes are red and it’s all his fault. It is a joke that we both laugh at. It’s been a great 24 years.
I’ve learned a lot during my 24 years at Trinity Church International and my 34 years in the ministry. My premature white(ish) hair now qualifies me to give advice to the younger ministers. What’s the advice that I constantly give for having a supernatural ministry? Stay in the Word and continually pray in the Spirit. Consume the Word. It is the bread of heaven. Pray in the Spirit. Praying in our prayer language causes the Word to expand within us. It amplifies the Word and enables the Word to grow and grow some more. I speak from experience when I say that praying in other tongues causes me to walk into a ministry opportunity with a spirit that is about to explode with the Word.
Here’s confirmation to what I’m sharing from one of the greatest ministers that I’ve ever studied, John G. Lake. Lake was a world shaker. The secret to his deep revelations, extraordinary manifestations, and the success of his ministry can be found in a statement that he made.
“I want to talk with the utmost frankness and say to you, that tongues have been the making of my ministry. It is that peculiar communication with God when God reveals to my soul the truth I utter to you day by day in the ministry. Many times, I climb out of bed, take my pencil and pad, and jot down the beautiful things of God, the wonderful things of God that He talks out in my spirit and reveals to my heart.”
Notice these words: “Tongues have been the making of my ministry.” Pastor/youth worker/children’s minister/Sunday school teacher, let this be the backbone of your ministry. Live in the Word and continually pray in the Spirit.
