The Truth Church

Pastor Hilton opens his message by reading Matthew 4:18-20, where Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to follow Him, promising to make them fishers of men. He emphasizes that this command to follow was foundational and did not end when Jesus ascended; rather, it continues through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that believers would do greater works because He goes to the Father, and He sent the Comforter to guide us into all truth. The early church followed Jesus' pattern in Acts 1:8, starting in Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Peter and the apostles declared they must obey God rather than men when persecuted. When the church was scattered, they went everywhere preaching the Word, and Philip's ministry in Samaria brought great joy and miracles because he followed Jesus into despised territory. Pastor Hilton draws a parallel to today: many have prejudices against certain people whom God wants to save, but we must follow Him beyond our comfort zones. He illustrates this with a story of a young man contemplating suicide who came to a church service, reminding us that we must not judge by outward appearance. The greatest need is for the joy of the Holy Ghost to overcome oppression and depression. Following Jesus requires cleaving to Him with purpose of heart, as Barnabas exhorted the believers in Antioch, and it is this wholehearted following that marks true Christians.

Pastor Hilton expounds on the Hebrew word 'Selah' from Psalm 3, arguing it signifies a pause for reflection and rest, not merely a musical notation. Drawing from lexicons and personal musicianship, he illustrates how David, as a shepherd, learned the value of such pauses amid life's pressures. Using Psalm 23 as a foundational text, he emphasizes that sheep need to lie down in green pastures and be led beside still waters—requiring complete trust in the Shepherd, who defends, guides, and provides rest even in the presence of enemies. The pastor warns against the modern compulsion to rush through life without meditative pauses, comparing it to forcing a song's tempo beyond its intended pace. He cites Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3, asserting that meditation on God's law is essential for fruitful living and spiritual prosperity. The sermon connects the Sabbath commandment and Isaiah 28:12 to show that God's rest and refreshing come through intentional stillness. Pastor Hilton concludes by reading Psalm 3 again, highlighting how Selah marks critical transitions: from lament to confidence in God's deliverance, and from fear to peaceful sleep. He invites the congregation to embrace these divinely designed pauses, allowing God to speak and prepare them for the next stanza of their lives, trusting that blessing and salvation belong to the Lord.

Brother Larson preaches from Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 24:49, and Luke 8:26-39 on the themes of being yoked with Christ and endued with power. He explains that the yoke represents relationship and alignment with Jesus, who carries the weight with us, while being endued is being clothed with power from on high through the Holy Ghost. The demoniac in Luke 8 illustrates this exchange: he traded his crushing yoke of demonic bondage for Christ's yoke, moving from torment to rest, isolation to connection, chaos to a sound mind. Brother Larson emphasizes that salvation does not make us instantly strong; it yokes us to the One who is strong. Jesus invites the heavy-laden to take His yoke, which is easy and light. But the yoke alone is not enough; believers also need the empowerment of the Holy Ghost. Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This waiting is not passive but an act of obedience and alignment. Brother Larson stresses that the early church repeatedly returned to prayer and infilling of the Spirit—not just a one-time experience. Power and renewal are sustained through the continual work of the Holy Ghost, the washing of the Word, and the renewing of the mind. The mind of Christ keeps believers yoked and empowered for the journey. The altar is a place of consecration and renewal, not of quitting.

Pastor Hilton opens his message by reading 2 Timothy 1:6, where Paul exhorts Timothy to stir up the gift of God within him. He clarifies that this gift is not merely a natural talent or skill but a holy, specific calling placed by God according to His purpose and grace. Using the example of Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, he illustrates that gifts can be a spiritual heritage, passed down through faithful generations. However, he emphasizes that God can also impart new gifts directly to anyone at the altar. The pastor warns against neglecting or allowing life's distractions to let this gift grow dormant. He urges the congregation to remember that their gift is necessary for the health and growth of the church body. Drawing from Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, he explains that believers are interdependent members of one body; each person's unique gift, whether prophecy, teaching, giving, or showing mercy, is meant to be used in concert with others for collective edification. He challenges any judgment or prejudice that would undermine another's contribution, insisting that spiritual gifts are distributed by the same Spirit. Pastor Hilton concludes by calling for a fresh stirring of these gifts in 2026, emphasizing that now is the time to dust off, renew, and activate what God has placed within each believer for the furtherance of His kingdom.