How Ministries are Born

People often ask me what the secret is to starting and growing a large ministry. I’m glad to share my experiences when I can, but the Apostle Paul explained how ministries are born in 1 Corinthians 12. However, since most people are unfamiliar with the meaning of one Greek word, they tend to overlook it. Before I reveal that word and its significance, especially for Faith Leaders, let me share a bit about how my ministry began.

Praying About Mysteries

I was a teenager when God called me into the ministry, and although I tried to run from it, I eventually submitted to His will. However, I had no idea how to proceed. Who would train and prepare me? Should I attend a major university with biblical studies or go to a Bible school? Could I get my training in my hometown of Detroit, and if so, where?

I had to pray about these unknowns, and fortunately, we have a way to pray about things we can’t figure out in our minds. 1 Corinthians 14:2 tells us For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. The Greek word translated as mysteries is musterion, meaning divine secrets.

No man had the answers for me, but the Holy Ghost did. So, after I came home from my job, I would get under the dining room table and pray in tongues. Now, don’t go out and start a “dining room table” ministry where you tell everyone they need to pray there. I prayed under the table because space was limited in our small home at the time. It created a “prayer closet” where I could focus on communicating with God: both speaking to Him about these mysteries and hearing from Him.

What Happens When You Pray in Tongues

As we read in 1 Corinthians 14:2, you speak secrets when you pray in tongues. Those are secrets that God has designed to block Satan’s attacks against you. God knows how the devil will approach you tomorrow, and when you pray that mystery out in the Spirit, you allow God to move on your behalf. You also become more spiritually sensitive so you can hear the Holy Ghost say, “That is a trap. Don’t do that. Don’t go there. Don’t hire that person.”

Most Christians are familiar with Romans 8:28. People quote it on social media and put it on coffee mugs and T-shirts: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” However, they usually don’t mention the verses before that set up that tremendous promise. Romans 8:26-27 says Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Faith Leader, God has great plans for you because you are called according to His purpose. However, you must dedicate time each day to praying in the Spirit. That’s how my ministry started and how it continues to grow. If you’re just beginning, you can’t skip this step because of that little-understood Greek word in 1 Corinthians 12 that I mentioned earlier. Do you want to know what it is?

The Rarely Understood Word About Birthing a Ministry

1 Corinthians 12:28 says And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

The little-understood Greek word is translated as diversities. You might think it means that everyone’s spiritual language is different. However, the word diversities is genos in Greek, and it means born of. So, what Paul said was that the apostle is born of tongues, the prophet is born of tongues, and so are evangelists, teachers, ministries of helps, and the pastor.

If you’re new to ministry or want your current ministry to grow, nurture it by praying in tongues. If you’re seeking talented men and women to serve in your ministry, their calling will be revealed as you pray in tongues. Of course, fulfilling any call of God involves work, but I always say, “Every success is a prayer success first. Every failure is a prayer failure first.” So, don’t skip this step because this is how anointed ministries are born.