With You or in You
from The Truth Church
Bishop Riggen preaches from John 14:15-21, emphasizing that true love for Jesus is demonstrated by keeping His commandments, not merely by belief. He contrasts having the Spirit 'with you' versus having the Spirit 'in you,' arguing that many believers, like the disciples before Pentecost, experience God's power working alongside them without the Spirit indwelling them. He uses examples from Scripture—the disciples healing and casting out devils, Samson's exploits, and people in Matthew 7 who performed miracles but were denied entry to heaven—to show that external works do not guarantee internal transformation. The key difference, he explains, is the new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:33, where God writes His law on hearts, not stone tablets. This internal change comes through being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). Bishop Riggen asserts that the initial evidence of the Spirit's indwelling is speaking in other tongues, as seen in Acts 2, 10, and 19, where believers spoke in languages unknown to them when filled. He clarifies that this is distinct from the gift of tongues mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, which is an additional spiritual gift for the church. The sermon's spiritual purpose is to call listeners to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the sign of tongues, because only with the Spirit living within can believers overcome their unruly tongues and live in obedience to God's commands, ensuring resurrection and eternal life.
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