The Truth Church

Reverend Hall opens with Scripture from Genesis 6:5, where God saw every imagination of man's heart was evil continually, yet Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He argues that grace is not unmerited favor, as is commonly taught, but merited favor—reward for obedience. Noah was a just man who walked with God, so he received grace; those who were evil-minded did not. Reverend Hall supports this with Exodus 33:12, where Moses also found grace because he was obedient. He emphasizes that God blesses the obedient, drawing on Isaiah 1:16-20: 'If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.' The preacher links obedience to receiving the Holy Ghost, citing Acts 5:29-32, where God gives the Spirit to them that obey Him. He explains that salvation requires applying Christ's blood through repentance and baptism in Jesus' name (Acts 2:37-38). Using Luke 24:44-49 and Acts 1-2, he stresses that the disciples received the promised Holy Ghost because they obeyed Christ's command to tarry in Jerusalem. Reverend Hall concludes that living for God comes with many benefits—answered prayer, healing, understanding of Scripture—all contingent on obedience. He urges the congregation to take advantage of these benefits by obeying the Word and responding to the altar call for prayer or the Holy Ghost.

Bishop Riggen continued teaching on 'Not Forsaking the Assembly' from Hebrews 10:25-26, emphasizing God's high priority on church attendance. He introduced the twelfth reason: it displays Paul's comparison of the church to a body (1 Corinthians 12). Every member—like a hand, foot, or even a toe—has a vital function; when one part is absent, the whole body suffers and must compensate. The thirteenth reason extends this: the body must care equally for all members, and staying home when hurting cuts one off from the spiritual help and intercession needed. Reason fourteen draws from Proverbs 27:17: iron sharpens iron—coming to church allows mutual encouragement, lifting spirits and sharpening faith. Reason fifteen comes from Ezekiel 33:1-9: the pastor is a watchman who sees dangers the congregation cannot. Just as ancient watchmen warned cities of approaching armies, the pastor must warn God's people. Bishop Riggen shared how he personally needs a watchman—a pastor to preach to him, counsel him, and help him finish well. He stressed that no one can preach to themselves; everyone needs a voice to guide, correct, and warn. Attending church positions believers to receive these warnings and preparation for spiritual battles. He concluded by urging the congregation to see themselves as essential organs in the local body, placed there by God for a specific purpose.

Bishop Riggen continues the series 'Understanding Authority' from Romans 13, emphasizing that submission to God's authority is essential for the kingdom of God to grow and prosper. He clarifies that the Greek word 'exousia' in this passage means authority, not power (dunamis). God possesses sole authority, which operates through willful submission, while Satan's authority is based on usurpation through disobedience. Using the Garden of Eden narrative, he explains God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil to test obedience—disobedience moves a person from God's kingdom to Satan's realm. The serpent's attack on Eve questioned whether God truly spoke, undermining her submission to God's word delivered through Adam. Eve added 'do not touch it' as a protective standard, but the serpent tempted her to reject authority. God's judgments after the fall reinforced authority: the woman would be under her husband's rule, and humanity would serve laboriously. The curse reflected the need for stricter obedience, not leniency. Bishop Riggen stresses that God desires heart-obedience, not mere intellectual knowledge of right and wrong. The Holy Ghost writes God's law on hearts, as symbolized by Pentecost. He concludes by citing 2 Corinthians 10:5, urging believers to cast down thoughts that exalt themselves against God and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, renewing minds through the Spirit.

Reverend Mays preaches from Daniel 11:32, dividing the verse into two parts: the negative warning about those corrupted by flatteries and the positive promise that those who know their God will be strong and do exploits. He emphasizes that a deceptive spirit, like that which beguiled Eve, is infiltrating the apostolic church, causing believers to doubt absolute standards of holiness, reject church attendance, and embrace worldly worship focused on performance rather than genuine Holy Ghost response. He warns against cheap grace that excuses sin, asserting that grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and fulfill the law's righteousness through faith. The preacher contrasts the wicked who are easily seduced by flattery with the faithful remnant who love God's law and are not offended by holiness preaching. He declares that even in dark times, God has a people who know Him through prayer, study, and separation from the world. They will be strong to do exploits—daring acts of faith—like the heroes of Hebrews 11. Reverend Mays calls the congregation to unite behind their pastor, hold up his hands, and win spiritual battles rather than backbite. The message's spiritual purpose is to reestablish boundaries of truth, reject compromise, and inspire believers to pursue a deep, personal relationship with God that empowers them for mighty works in the last days.

Bishop Riggen begins by reading Hebrews 10:25-26, emphasizing the command not to forsake assembling together, warning that willful sin leaves no further sacrifice. He clarifies this doesn't mean unforgivable sin but addresses the specific context of Hebrews who relied on repeated temple sacrifices, explaining that Christ's once-for-all sacrifice means believers must stop willful sinning, not merely cover it up. The bishop connects this to church attendance, stating that the early church faced persecution yet Paul still commanded them to gather. He stresses that attendance is a sacred duty, not a mere option, and that neglecting it makes missing easier. He offers self-examination: would your boss accept your excuse for missing work? Then he provides over ten biblical reasons for faithful attendance: Jesus' custom of going to the synagogue (Luke 4:16); the direct command in Hebrews 10:25; it prepares believers for the rapture; it makes the church a house of prayer (Matthew 21:12-14); it promotes unity (Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 4:3,13); faith comes by hearing preached Word (Romans 10:17); it brings accountability to leaders who watch for souls (Hebrews 13:17); it helps in the ongoing process of salvation through preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21); it is a visible response to the greatest commandment to love God (Matthew 22:36-38); it is a visible response to the second greatest commandment to love neighbor (Matthew 22:39); and it provides opportunity to bear one another's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). The spiritual purpose is to rekindle love for God's house, recognizing that gathering builds faith, unity, and mutual care, enabling miracles and preparing believers for Christ's return.