The Truth Church

Bishop Riggen preaches from 2 Kings 4:1-7, the account of a widow and a pot of oil. The widow's husband, a son of the prophets, died in debt, and the creditor was coming to take her two sons as bondservants. When Elisha asked what she had, she replied only a pot of oil. The man of God instructed her to borrow empty vessels from all her neighbors, not just a few, then shut the door and pour the oil into them. She obeyed, filling every available vessel until none remained, and the oil stopped flowing. Bishop Riggen explains that oil represents the Holy Ghost's power and anointing. The widow's total obedience contrasts with Joash, who struck the ground only three times and stopped. She sought every empty vessel, demonstrating a hunger to go beyond the bare minimum. The sermon's central point is the church's need for empty vessels—unsaved, unfulfilled souls. God hates emptiness because the devil loves it (Matthew 12:44-45). The flow of the Spirit in the church is tied directly to bringing in empty vessels. As long as there are empty vessels to fill, the oil will keep flowing. Bishop Riggen urges the congregation to actively seek out the lost, the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind—like those in the parable of the great supper—and compel them to come in. He illustrates this with the demoniac of Gadara, who, after deliverance, was sent to preach in Decapolis. The spiritual purpose is to inspire urgent, personal outreach so that the Holy Spirit's outpouring will not cease.

Pastor Hilton continues a series on the grace of God, grounding the message in Hebrews 6:1-3 and Titus 2:11-14. He corrects a prior misunderstanding about the Greek word for grace, clarifying that it includes charm, favor, and, most importantly, God's enabling power that bestows upon believers what they do not have. This grace provides strength, knowledge, and ability to do God's will, and it is sufficient, available to all, and can be requested for more. Turning to Romans 3, he explains that the apostle Paul refutes the idea that grace nullifies the law; rather, righteousness has always existed and is manifested through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works of the Mosaic law. There is no difference between the righteousness of faith and the righteousness of the law—both are from God. All have sinned, but believers are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ's blood. Pastor Hilton emphasizes that grace teaches believers to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly. He warns against the distortion that grace permits sinful living. Using the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, he shows that humility before God, not self-righteous works, invites justification. He further illustrates from Romans 4 that Abraham was counted righteous by faith before circumcision, establishing faith as the basis for righteousness. He concludes that God's grace empowers believers to overcome human limitations and live not merely by obligation but from a confident faith in God, avoiding empty religious performance.

Pastor Hilton opens with Psalm 89:15, 'Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound,' asserting that God loves sound and noise. He illustrates this with the angelic host at Christ's birth (Luke 2), the triumphal entry where Jesus said even stones would cry out (Luke 19), and the Pentecostal outpouring in Acts 2. However, he emphasizes that God does not want merely any noise; He wants 'a certain sound'—an authentic, genuine worship arising from the believer's own heart and free will, unlike angels who obey by design. He warns against empty clamor, citing Jesus rebuking the paid mourners at Jairus's daughter's house (Mark 5:39) as 'much ado.' Using 1 Corinthians 14:7-8, he notes that a trumpet must give a distinct sound or no one prepares for battle; similarly, the believer's praise must be certain and sincere, not just performative noise. He contrasts the beaver's futile dam against a mighty river (illustrating the unstoppable flow of the Holy Spirit from within, John 7:38) with the need to yield to God's Spirit. The pastor urges the congregation to press beyond doubt and concern for others' opinions, drawing from personal testimony—the night someone received the Holy Ghost—as evidence of God's faithfulness. He calls for a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4), grounded in remembrance of God's goodness, mercy, and the certain judgment to come, concluding that God deserves this authentic, distinct sound from His people.

Pastor Hilton preaches from Titus 2:11-14, focusing on the third definition of grace as a divine gift of kindness and power bestowed upon believers. He corrects a previous teaching, clarifying that the Greek root *charis* underlies *charisma*, and defines grace three ways: charm, favor, and a supernatural gift. The core message is that grace is not merely unmerited favor but an active, enabling power given to all men, as seen in Titus 2:11, Ephesians 2:8, and Ephesians 4:7. Using Paul’s thorn in the flesh from 2 Corinthians 12, Pastor Hilton explains that God’s response to Paul’s plea for removal was 'My grace is sufficient for thee,' showing that grace strengthens in weakness. He emphasizes that this grace is always available, exceeding, and sufficient for every struggle. Drawing from James 4:6, he notes that while human nature lusts after carnal things, God gives more grace to the humble who stop asking amiss and instead seek His strength. The sermon culminates in a call to prayer, asking not for material needs but for God to bestow 'great grace' upon the congregation so that His glory may be revealed through their infirmities. Pastor Hilton insists that believers need not beg for grace; it is a gift ready to empower them to overcome confusion, weakness, and struggle, allowing God to demonstrate His strength in their lives.