The Truth Church

Pastor Hilton preached from 1 John 3:19-21, addressing the pervasive mindset of self-condemnation, shame, and worthlessness that plagues this generation. He traced this problem back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve, after disobeying God, became ashamed and hid. Their shame was not from God but from believing the enemy's lie. Today, the accuser of the brethren still works to condemn believers in their own hearts, making them feel unworthy and hopeless. The pastor emphasized that God’s purpose is not condemnation but salvation. Jesus came not to condemn the world but to remove condemnation. Romans 8:1 declares there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. The key to overcoming self-condemnation is to trust God’s word over our own feelings. God is greater than our heart and knows all things. The pastor used the illustration of the adulterous woman in John 8, whom Jesus did not condemn but told to go and sin no more. He distinguished between worldly sorrow, which leads to death, and godly sorrow, which produces genuine repentance and change. The spiritual purpose was to exhort believers to reject the enemy’s lies of shame and condemnation, to believe in the power of Christ’s blood, and to walk in the confidence that comes from being in Christ, free from condemnation.

Reverend Hilton preaches on the power of testimony as a weapon against the accuser, based on Revelation 12:10-11. He explains that salvation and victory come because the accuser of the brethren is cast down, and believers overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. He illustrates with the story of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5, who, after being delivered, wanted to follow Jesus but was sent instead to testify in his own region. Reverend Hilton emphasizes that God has done great things for every believer, and the enemy is defeated when we speak of His goodness. He warns against dwelling on past failures, as God has cast our sins as far as the east is from the west. He calls for genuine repentance that bears fruit, not mere words, and urges the church to become a testifying people, both in the sanctuary and in the world. The sermon culminates in an invitation for individuals to stand and testify of God's work in their lives, encouraging a culture of bold, personal witness that defeats the enemy and reaches the lost.

Bishop Riggen continues teaching on unanswered prayer, emphasizing that Jesus promised in Matthew 7:7-11 that everyone who asks receives, yet many believers have prayed without receiving answers. He insists the fault lies not with God, who cannot lie, but with the believer. The first reason for unanswered prayer is not asking specifically, as James 4:2 states, 'You have not because you ask not.' The second reason is asking amiss—selfishly, to consume upon one's lusts (James 4:3). Bishop Riggen explains this means praying with fleshly motives, like those who prayed over sweepstakes entries hoping to benefit themselves. He then examines the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for selfless prayer: it begins with praise, not demands; uses plural pronouns ('our Father,' 'us') instead of 'me' or 'my'; prioritizes God's kingdom first; requests daily bread rather than wealth; ties forgiveness to forgiving others; and asks for strength against temptation. He illustrates the difficulty of forgiveness with a story of a man whose wife had an affair, telling him he must forgive if he ever needs God's forgiveness. Bishop Riggen concludes by citing Luke 12:32, declaring it is the Father's good pleasure to give believers the kingdom, so they should pray properly and not selfishly.

Pastor Hilton opens with Hebrews 11:1, defining faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. He challenges the congregation to have faith in God's power to heal and work miracles. He acknowledges that many have preached 'according to your faith,' but emphasizes that even faith as small as a mustard seed is enough for God to act. He references Mark 6:4-5, where Jesus could not do many mighty works in his hometown due to unbelief, yet still healed a few sick folk. Pastor Hilton argues that God desires to do more than 'a few sick folk'—He wants to perform many miracles. He contrasts limited faith found in traditional settings with the apostolic faith from the book of Acts, where Peter's shadow healed and Paul raised Eutychus. He insists that healing, miracles, and deliverance are as essential as baptism in Jesus' name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. He urges believers to develop 'right now' faith, like the woman with the issue of blood who was healed immediately upon touching Jesus' garment. Pastor Hilton calls for an old-fashioned prayer line, inviting those with needs to come forward not out of obligation but with genuine, present-moment faith. He assures them that he and the elders will pray the prayer of faith from James 5:14-15, believing God will heal and receive glory right now, not tomorrow.

Bishop Riggen begins with Jesus’ definitive promise in Matthew 7:7-8: ask, seek, knock—and it shall be given. Not maybe or perhaps, but shall. Yet many believers have unanswered prayers. The problem is never with God, who cannot lie, but with us. The first major hindrance is simply not asking properly. James 4:2 confirms this: 'You have not because you ask not.' Often we pray vague requests—'Lord, have mercy' or 'Lord, bless us'—and receive no answer. Blind Bartimaeus cried for mercy but received nothing until Jesus asked him specifically, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He had to ask for his sight directly. Similarly, the man with the withered hand had to stand forth and stretch out his hand; Jesus made him articulate his need openly. At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus asked the man who had been infirm thirty-eight years, 'Do you want to be made whole?' God wants us to admit our vulnerability and make specific petitions. A second, related hindrance is feeling unworthy. Many believe God can answer but not for them—because of their past or their own sin. But Jesus' promise is to everyone, including the unworthy. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace. God is not evaluating our worthiness; He is looking for vessels through whom He can display His glory. He humbled Himself to serve us, asking what we want, so that when He answers, He proves His supremacy and gets the glory. The invitation is clear: stop hesitating and just ask. God cannot lie, and He will supply all our needs according to His riches.

Pastor Hilton begins with Matthew 16:13-20, where Jesus asks who people say He is, and Peter declares, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' He emphasizes that this revelation came from the Father, not flesh and blood. Building on that, he explains that Jesus is both Son of Man and Son of God, and that believers, though born of flesh like Adam, can become sons of God through the new birth. He traces the phrase 'sons of God' from Genesis 6 (the line of Seth) through 2 Samuel 7 (God's covenant with David, declaring David His son) to the New Testament. The key text is Romans 8:14-19: 'For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.' Creation itself groans for the manifestation of these sons—believers who are not just born of blood or will but born of God through water and Spirit. Pastor Hilton stresses that becoming a son of God requires a relationship: calling on God like Enos, seeking Him like David in the pasture. Jesus, though the Son, learned obedience through suffering, setting the pattern. Now, filled with the Holy Ghost, believers carry the revelation and power to loose bonds on earth, reflecting the Father's nature. The ultimate hope is that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, freed from the limitations of this fallen flesh.