Paul’s Preferred Practice in Prayer

Bishop Riggen, preaching from 1 Corinthians 14, teaches on the devotional use of tongues—not the initial evidence or the gift of tongues, but the private prayer language that builds up the believer. He outlines three purposes: carrying a private conversation with God beyond the devil's understanding, speaking mysteries (God revealing His plan), and edifying oneself. He emphasizes that tongues build up the individual spiritually, just as ministry and the church body also build up, creating a threefold cord of strength. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Romans 8:26, Bishop Riggen explains that praying in the Spirit transforms the believer from glory to glory, progressively shaping them into the image of Christ—a process that begins at the initial infilling and continues until the redemption of the body. The Spirit prays through us for what we do not know to ask, ensuring our prayers are not amiss. Bishop Riggen illustrates the need for daily tongues with the example of physical atrophy without exercise; similarly, spiritual muscles weaken without personal prayer in the Spirit. He calls the congregation to desire this transformation, to press into the Holy Ghost for another refreshing, and to let God chisel away imperfections. The sermon's spiritual purpose is to motivate believers to regularly pray in tongues for personal edification and to become more like Jesus, concluding with an altar call to seek this deeper experience.