The Truth Church

Bishop Riggen preaches on the biblical blueprint for church music from Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, where the Apostle Paul commands believers to use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. He explains that psalms are inspired, musically accompanied songs of direct praise or prayer to God; hymns are majestic, traditionally recognized songs of foundational truth that often invite sinners to repentance; and spiritual songs are opposed to the carnal, meaning they must not appeal to the flesh. The Bishop draws a critical distinction between music in the church and true church music, warning that many conservative churches are compromising on musical style. He teaches that music has three elements—melody (appealing to the spirit), harmony (appealing to the soul), and rhythm (appealing to the body). When rhythm dominates, it stirs carnality and must be controlled. He illustrates how unresolved musical tension affects the body and cites the biblical examples of Elisha’s minstrel calming his spirit and David’s harp driving an evil spirit from Saul. The Bishop argues that method matters to God, using the examples of Cain’s rejected offering and Uzzah’s death for carrying the ark on a cart instead of on priests’ shoulders. He traces ungodly music to Lucifer himself, created as a worship leader but corrupted by pride. The wrong kind of music attracts evil spirits, leads to carnal excess, and cannot be sanctified by attaching holy lyrics. He concludes that true worship music must lead the listener into God’s presence, not exalt human performance.

Reverend Hilton draws from 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 to shift believers from a victim mentality to a victor's mindset. He emphasizes that the devil's primary battlefield is the mind, where he whispers lies of worthlessness, defeat, and hopelessness, especially after sin. The preacher counters this by declaring that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives inside every believer, making them more than conquerors. He illustrates how God's pattern—the Spirit moving, then speaking, then transformation—applies from Genesis creation to Acts 2 Pentecost to personal renewal. Using the story of Joseph, Reverend Hilton shows how Joseph refused victimhood despite being thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned; instead, he maintained integrity and served others, ultimately rising to power in Egypt. The preacher contrasts Peter's remorse and restoration with Judas's despair and suicide, urging listeners not to give up but to repent and seek God's mercy. He declares that God is not a God of victims but of victors, and that He can use anyone who refuses to stay defeated. The message concludes with a call to reject the enemy's lies and embrace the identity of a victor through Christ's power.

Pastor Hilton preaches from Acts 2:38, emphasizing that repentance and baptism in Jesus' name lead to the promised gift of the Holy Ghost. He clarifies that this gift cannot be earned or purchased; it is freely given by God to those who obey His Word. Using the account of Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8, he shows that money cannot buy the Holy Ghost—only obedience to God's command brings the gift. He then draws from Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4 to illustrate that God looks at the heart, not outward status or sin. Despite her checkered past and Samaritan background, Jesus offered her living water, which represents the Spirit. The key, Pastor Hilton stresses, is to ask sincerely and to have a heart that seeks God earnestly, like David. He describes the Holy Ghost as the promise of the Father, the agent of regeneration, the seal of salvation, the sanctifier, the guide into truth, and the source of power, hope, peace, and boldness. Ultimately, the Holy Ghost guarantees eternal life and resurrection. Pastor Hilton urges those who have not received this gift to come to the altar and ask, assuring them that God desires to give it to all who truly seek Him with their whole heart.

Bishop Riggen continues his study on hair from 1 Corinthians 11, emphasizing that God has chosen hair as a symbol of submission to authority. He reiterates that for a woman, long hair signifies submission, while for a man, long hair signals rebellion. The biblical definition of 'long' is uncut hair, based on the Greek words komao and kome. Nature itself teaches the distinction: a woman's hair should be allowed to grow naturally without cutting, trimming, or chemical treatments, as nature determines its length. For men, nature sets a hairline that indicates when hair is short enough. Bishop Riggen argues that a woman's hair is her God-given covering, replacing the need for a veil, as confirmed by 1 Corinthians 11:15. He addresses objections: Jesus did not have long hair, as Paul would not condemn what Christ practiced, and the phrase 'we have no such custom' means the church does not dispute these teachings. He also teaches against facial hair, citing Leviticus 13:45 where a mustache was a sign of uncleanness, and Leviticus 19:27 which prohibits trimming a beard. He links facial hair to pride, as per 1 Timothy 2, and argues for clean-shaven faces for the gospel's sake, using Paul's circumcision of Timothy as an example of sacrificing personal preference for greater acceptance. The sermon's spiritual purpose is to call believers to gender distinction and separation from the world, ensuring outward appearance reflects inward submission to God's order.

Pastor Hilton preaches on blessed assurance, grounding his message in Hebrews 12:25-27, which speaks of God's voice shaking earth and heaven to remove what can be shaken so that the unshakable remains. He contrasts this with the spirit of fear, using David's experience in Psalm 34 as the central illustration. David, anointed king as a youth, faced years of opposition: first from King Saul, who became his enemy, then from the Philistine king Achish in Gath. Fleeing in fear, David changed his behavior out of terror, scrabbling on gates and feigning madness. Yet in that low point, he wrote Psalm 34, declaring, 'I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.' The pastor emphasizes that David's enemy was not only Saul or the Philistines but fear itself—an intangible, faceless foe that drove him to erratic decisions. The message calls believers to recognize that God offers a quiet confidence and assurance, not based on circumstances, but on righteousness and trust. Pastor Hilton cites Isaiah 32:17, 'the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever,' and Hebrews 10:22's call to draw near 'in full assurance of faith.' He references Fannie Crosby, blind from infancy, who wrote 'Blessed Assurance' out of her own contented trust in God. The spiritual purpose is to help the congregation replace fear with God-given assurance, confident that He hears, answers, and will never fail those who seek Him and make their calling and election sure.