The Truth Church

Pastor Hilton opens with Matthew 11:7-9, where Jesus asks the crowd what they went into the wilderness to see—a reed shaken by the wind, a man in soft clothing, or a prophet. He applies this question to believers today, asking what they come to church looking for. He argues that a person's expectation shapes their perception, and their perception defines their reality. Using 2 Kings 7, he illustrates this through the lord who doubted Elisha's prophecy of abundance during a famine; because he expected impossibility, he saw the miracle but could not partake. Pastor Hilton then contrasts three possible expectations: coming for ordinary routines (a reed shaken), seeking worldly or comfortable religion (soft raiment), or genuinely pursuing a word from God (a prophet). He warns against treating worship like entertainment, citing Ezekiel 33:31-32, where people hear God's word as a lovely song but do not obey. He shares a modern song lyric that cries for real Jesus rather than polished performances. Finally, he references Acts 1:9-11, where angels ask the apostles why they are staring into heaven—implying the church must stop gazing and start seeking with purpose. The sermon's spiritual purpose is to call believers to examine their motives, raise their expectations, and earnestly seek God's direction and transformative presence, not mere religious spectacle.

Bishop Riggen preaches on the biblical principles governing outward adorning, continuing from an earlier lesson. He focuses on three criteria for Christian clothing: modesty, distinction between the sexes, and separation from the world. For modesty, he defines it biblically as not given to extremes or pride/flirtation, rejecting societal redefinitions. He emphasizes Deuteronomy 22:5, explaining that women wearing what pertains to a man—such as pants—is an abomination to God, not merely a modesty issue, and that God connected pants with men in Scripture (priestly breeches). He argues against exceptions like wearing pants to sleep or leggings under skirts. He also teaches from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that effeminacy in men is condemned separately from homosexuality. The third principle from 2 Corinthians 6:17 calls believers to be separate from the world in appearance, so the church looks distinct. He illustrates with his own experience of being identified as apostolic by a performer. Bishop Riggen encourages parents to teach these principles biblically to children so they understand and embrace them, not just follow rules. He stresses that while some lines may not be heaven-or-hell issues, abominations are, and believers should dress to please God, not to follow worldly fads.

Pastor Hilton preaches from 2 Kings chapter 4, focusing on the widow who had only a pot of oil. He explains that every vessel in God's house has a purpose and is prepared by the Potter. Using the example of Paul, he shows how God prepares vessels for specific tasks. The key point is that God is looking for empty vessels—people emptied of their own agendas, junk, and worldly contents. He illustrates this with a cup on his desk that had become filled with pens and trash, unable to fulfill its original purpose. The pastor emphasizes that before God can fill us with His Spirit, we must first empty ourselves. He connects this to the widow's story: the prophet told her to borrow empty vessels, not full ones. The oil—representing the Holy Ghost—only flowed into empty vessels. Pastor Hilton urges the congregation to examine their hearts and be willing to dump out anything that hinders God's purpose. He stresses that God does not pour His Spirit indiscriminately but into prepared, empty vessels. The message calls for personal consecration, cleaning out the junk of life, and becoming vessels of honor ready for the Master's use. He closes with a challenge to come to the altar empty, ready for a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit in this year of outpouring.

Bishop Riggen preaches from Mark 6:14-29, focusing on the story of John the Baptist's imprisonment and death at the hands of Herod. The sermon explores how Herod's guilty conscience led him to believe Jesus was John risen from the dead, illustrating that hidden sin will eventually find us out. The bishop emphasizes that while Herod was manipulated by Herodias, he remained responsible for his decision to behead John, and Luke notes this act topped all his evils. The core teaching then shifts to John's own doubts while in prison, as recorded in Luke 7:19-23. Despite receiving divine confirmation of Jesus as the Messiah, John struggled when his circumstances didn't match his expectations. Jesus's response—'Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me'—becomes the sermon's central application. Bishop Riggen urges believers not to lose faith when God doesn't answer prayers as expected, using illustrations of a man with dementia who momentarily declared 'God knows what he's doing,' a new convert whose temporary healing forged a pastoral bond, and Job's resolve to trust God through loss and suffering. The message challenges the congregation to hold fast to God's promises even in darkness, accepting both good and evil from His hand without becoming offended or bitter.

Bishop Riggen preaches from 1 Timothy 2:8-10, emphasizing that outward appearance matters to God, contrary to a common misinterpretation of 1 Samuel 16:7. He argues that the context of that verse is about choosing a king, not about personal holiness, and that men cannot see hearts, so believers must look different to reach the lost. He traces God's concern for clothing back to Genesis 3:21, where God made full-length coats for Adam and Eve, not mere aprons, establishing the principle of complete covering. Further examples include Zechariah 3:3-5, where God changed the high priest's filthy garments, and Mark 5:15, where the demoniac, after deliverance, was found clothed and in his right mind. Exodus 28:2 shows God's desire for holy garments for glory and beauty. The text in 1 Timothy 2:9 commands modesty, which Bishop Riggen defines both as moderation between extremes and as avoiding pride or flirtation. He applies this to limbs: the arm from shoulder to wrist, the leg from hip to ankle, with the elbow and knee as 'in-between' markers that should remain covered for safety. He also addresses tight clothing and slit skirts, noting their origin in seduction. He cautions against imposing these standards on unsaved visitors, prioritizing getting them filled with the Holy Ghost first. The goal is for believers to please God in every aspect of life, including dress, by setting safe, biblical boundaries.