The Truth Church

Pastor Hilton continues a series on Acts 9:31, examining how the early church experienced rest, edification, and multiplication even amid persecution. He emphasizes that true growth is not merely numerical but spiritual, rooted in two essential components: the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost. He clarifies that the Greek word *phobos* used for fear in the New Testament often means a literal terror, but it must be properly oriented—not toward timidity or cowardice (which Scripture condemns), but toward the one true God who created all things. He illustrates this by contrasting Jonah's fear of God, which gripped even pagan sailors, with the misdirected superstition Paul addressed at Mars Hill. Pastor Hilton describes fear as a spectrum: one side is paralyzing, the other is reckless disregard; a healthy fear of God produces boldness and freedom from all other fears. He then uses the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-25) to show that God invests in each believer according to their ability, expecting profitable return. The servant who buried his one talent was paralyzed by a misappropriated fear, making excuses and failing to act. Pastor Hilton urges the congregation not to bury their God-given gifts but to risk working for the kingdom, to be edified and then multiply, so that when the Lord returns, He finds more than He invested.

Reverend Herring takes a text from Mark 10:17, the account of the rich young ruler, to explore what he calls the four heartbeats of desire. He argues that this ruler possessed great discipline but lacked genuine spiritual desire, which leads to dryness of soul. The man approached Jesus with respect and claimed to have kept all the commandments, yet when Christ told him to sell all and follow, he went away grieving. Reverend Herring presents four essential heartbeats: the grave—every person must choose how to use the 'wood' of their life, whether for self, destruction, or the cross; the barren womb—a cry for fruitfulness and revival, illustrated by Rachel's desperation and the travail necessary for spiritual birth; the tract of land—the fallow ground that must be tilled again, requiring hard work and removal of obstacles; and the unquenchable fire—God's refining presence that must burn within. He emphasizes that discipline without desire is empty, and that revival demands persistence, travail, and a willingness to let God deal with carnality. He compares the ruler to the fig tree that had leaves but no fruit, and contrasts him with Bartimaeus who received because of persistence. The sermon calls for believers to bring their 'fire pan' to church, to be prepared for an outpouring, and to get together in unity like the upper room, so that the Holy Ghost can move powerfully.

Pastor Hilton preaches from 2 Corinthians 3:17, declaring that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. He establishes that God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and this Spirit possesses attributes: He is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 16:13), the Spirit of love (1 John 4:8, 16), the Holy Spirit who calls us to holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16), and the source of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The sermon focuses on one specific attribute: the Spirit of liberty. Pastor Hilton traces this Spirit's work through Israel's history: delivering them from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 14), leading them by pillar of cloud and fire, and repeatedly rescuing them when they fell into cycles of sin and bondage (Judges 10). The Spirit of liberty was ever-ready to set them free again. He then turns to Isaiah 61:1-3, the messianic prophecy that Jesus fulfilled in Luke 4:16-21. Jesus came anointed by the Spirit to preach good news, heal the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to captives — not mere political or financial freedom, but eternal spiritual liberation from sin, death, and hell. Jesus did not just preach about deliverance; He gave deliverance. Pastor Hilton emphasizes that now is the accepted time, the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). The Spirit of liberty is present this morning, and no one must leave carrying the same chains of bondage; God offers absolute freedom.

Pastor Hilton begins with Acts 9:31, which describes the early church having rest, being edified, walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and being multiplied. He emphasizes that the fear of God and the comfort of the Holy Ghost are not contradictory but a necessary balance for true spiritual growth. He warns against equating numerical increase with genuine growth, sharing an account of a dead animal that swells but is not alive. The sermon focuses on recovering a genuine, childlike fear of God—a reverential awe that drives repentance and careful living. He argues that this fear, not mere respect, produces godly sorrow leading to salvation and then to comfort from the Holy Ghost. He contrasts this with the pervasive spirit of pride and arrogance in this generation, which directly opposes the fear of God. He references Proverbs 8:13, which defines the fear of the Lord as hating evil, pride, and arrogancy. He critiques the professionalization of ministry and the anti-authority spirit that undermines respect for God’s anointed. He concludes by urging the congregation to examine themselves, to lay down pride at the altar, and to recapture a holy carefulness in their walk with God, so that the church may again see the multiplication and rest promised in Acts.

Pastor Hilton opens his message by reading 2 Corinthians 3:6-8, emphasizing the distinction between the letter and the Spirit of the Word — the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. He teaches that while the written Word of God is essential for doctrine, correction, and instruction in righteousness, it must be ministered by the Spirit to bring life rather than death. Using Romans 7, he explains the metaphor of marriage: our old, carnal nature is married to the law, and that union can only produce death because our flesh is unable to fulfill the law. However, when we voluntarily die to our old man — crucifying our human nature, will, and desires — a new man is resurrected through Christ, who can then be married to the Word and bear fruit for God. Pastor Hilton stresses that true righteousness is not achieved by our own efforts or knowledge of Scripture, but by faith in Christ's righteousness imputed to us. He references Philippians 3, where Paul counts all his religious pedigree as loss for the excellency of knowing Christ. The sermon concludes with a call for self-examination: believers must allow the Spirit, using the Word as a sharp two-edged sword, to divide between soul and spirit, cutting away what is unprofitable so that they may truly know Christ and experience life after spiritual death. The altars are opened for those who desire this transformation.