NCC-Admin-1, Author at NCCRevised

God’s View of His Word

February 17, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
Psalm 138:2 KJV

We know that the Name of the Lord is Holy. His Name is to be honored and revered. It is not to be taken, lightly, casually, or flippantly. It is not to be degraded or profaned in any way. His name is to be exalted and magnified. (Exodus 20:7). God’s Name is the revelation of His character and His nature. His Name is the expression of Who He is!

If God’s Name is to be so honored and revered, then what does God think of His Word? The scripture declares that God has magnified His Word even above His Name! Just as God is Holy and His Name Holy, His Word is also Holy! God’s Word is the expression of His will and purpose. Through the Word He reveals Himself. Through the Word, He reveals His love for us. Through the Word, He declares and affirms His mighty power both in creation and in His dealing with mankind. Through the Word, He reveals his great salvation!

It is through the Word that we come to know Him. And it is through the Word that we learn to live and walk with Him. It is through the Word that we discover our identity. It is through the Word that we discover our purpose and destiny. It is through the Word that we know of the reality of our future.

God’s Word has never failed. Whatever He has said has and will come to pass. If God ever said anything that failed to come to pass, then God would cease to be God! God and His Word are inseparable. That is why the evil one continually attacks the Word of God. That is why he seeks to cause people to doubt the Word of God. He knows far better than we do the power, the reliability, the integrity, and the veracity of the Word of God!

If God has such a high view of His Word, should we not also value it, treasure it, read it, apply it, and follow it? Let us resolve to have the same honor and reverence for God’s Word as He does! If we do, we will be continually conformed to His image! For it is His Word, both living and written that changes us!

Rev. James Black

A New Song

February 3, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:3 KJV

King David rejoiced in the fact that the Lord had delivered him from difficult circumstances. Because of that, his heart was overflowing with joy, praise, and thanksgiving unto the Lord! Throughout David’s life, he had experienced the faithfulness of God on numerous occasions. On many of those occasions, David would write a song unto the Lord as a means of expressing his gratitude. Many of those songs would later be sung in the Temple worship in Jerusalem. Many of them have become a part of The Word of God. Many of the Psalms (songs) in the Bible were written by David. The fact they wound up as scripture points to the Divine Inspiration of those songs!

Whenever we experience the Lord’s deliverance or provision in the midst of seemingly impossible circumstances, it should motivate us to want to offer praise and adoration unto the Holy One for His goodness and His faithfulness in our lives. Joy and thanksgiving flow from the heart, the inner core of our being, and manifests itself outwardly. Sometimes that manifestation is a shout of joy. Sometimes it is a song sung with great passion. Sometimes it is simply kneeling before the Lord with uplifted hands. Sometimes it is prostrating ourselves before the Lord with tears of gratitude. Whatever expression that joy takes it produces light in our countenance and puts a smile on our face. Others can see this joy. And it encourages them to want to hear about what the Lord has done for us! It opens the door to conversation about the reality of God!

So let us sing our “new song” unto the Lord! The song is new because the Lord’s deliverance today is different from His deliverance previously. And we have a new opportunity to express our joy unto Him! So let us sing our new song and rejoice in our God for He is worthy of our praise!

Rev. James Black

Praying For One Another

January 27, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the Day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.”
Phil. 1: 9-11 KJV

Often when we ask for prayer or others ask us to pray for them, it is usually about a specific issue that we or they are facing or dealing with at the time. And we should pray for one another concerning such things. That is called “bearing one another’s burdens”. (Gal. 6:2).

But in the Body of Christ, it is equally important that we pray for those things that strengthen and deepen our understanding and walk with the Lord. In Philippians, Paul lists those vital things that we should continually pray for one another. These things will help us individually and will help us corporately as a Body.

Pray that we will grow in love for one another. Our love for one another should be genuine and continue to grow and deepen as we walk with Christ. Such love should permeate the entire Body. (John 13:35).
Pray that we will continue to grow in the knowledge and truth of the Lord Jesus. Our understanding and knowledge of Christ and Biblical Truth should continue to grow and increase. (John 1: 14, 17).
Pray that we will continually focus on those things that are excellent (those things that have real value and meaning). We should not allow ourselves to get distracted by non-essentials. Pray that in all things we will keep our focus on Jesus! (Heb. 12:2).
Pray that our hearts will be genuine and sincere in our walk with the Lord, doing our best to not bring a reproach to the Name of Christ or to be offensive toward one another. (1 John 1: 6-7).
Pray that the Fruit of Christ (the fruit of the Holy Spirit) might be manifested in us and through us individually and corporately as the Body of Christ. (Gal. 5: 22-25).

If we pray for one another concerning these things we will grow individually and corporately as a Body!

Rev. James W. Black

When Our Heart Condemns Us

January 20, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things.
1 John 3:20 KJV

Do you ever feel that your walk with the Lord Jesus, just does not measure up? That you are not good enough? That no matter what you do, you just don’t do enough? Do you ever feel like just giving up? Every follower of Christ has been assaulted by these feelings and these thoughts at one time or another. These thoughts and feelings describe what the Word God calls the condemnation of the heart.

These thoughts and feelings originate from two sources. First, they originate from the Adversary who seeks to heap guilt and condemnation upon us by attacking us with these thoughts and feelings. Secondly, they originate with us when we get caught up in focusing on ourselves instead of focusing on Christ.

When we focus on ourselves it is easy to see our shortcomings. Then we find ourselves comparing ourselves to someone else who “appears” to be more spiritual than we are and we begin to agree with those thoughts and feelings by affirming them. But the reality is that none of us measure up, are good enough, or can ever do enough to fully satisfy the requirements for being fully accepted by a Holy God! We must accept and believe (by faith) that Christ’s finished work is completely sufficient to satisfy the wrath of God (John 3:36). And that His Blood is completely sufficient and able to cleanse us of all our sins and make us righteous and fully acceptable in His sight (1 John 1: 9). All of which is based upon what Christ has already done, not on what we think we can or should do. If God says it is sufficient then surely we can believe that it is!

With that firm understanding, we can then realize that God is indeed greater than our heart! When we choose to take our attention off of ourselves and focus on Him and what He has accomplished for us, we will then find victory over those thoughts that would assault our hearts and minds. (Rom. 8:1, Phil.4:8).

Rev. James W. Black

How Faith Works

January 14, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Galatians 5:6 KJV

Sometimes in the Body of Christ we struggle with the concept of faith. We struggle with knowing how to exercise our faith. And we struggle sometimes to know how faith operates. Sometimes we feel that our faith is weak. Sometimes we feel that we have no faith at all. Sometimes we struggle to produce faith and we feel that nothing is happening. The problem is that we try to measure our faith by our feelings.
Faith is not a feeling. It is simply trusting and putting our confidence in what we know to be true.

Faith is not something that is produced by us. Faith is a gift from God Himself (Eph. 2:8). Even the faith to be saved is a gift! It was the Holy Spirit working in our heart that revealed to us our lost condition. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed to us Who Jesus truly is. And it was the Holy Spirit who revealed to us that the only hope of salvation, (that is being cleansed from our sin and made right and acceptable in the sight of a Holy God) could be found in Him. The Word declares that every follower of Christ has been given a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3).

The Word declares that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). Faith is built up and released within us when we “hear” and believe that God’s Word is true! Then we act on that Word by faith because we believe. In acting on the Word by faith (not feelings) the truth of the Word is affirmed to us. When the truth of the Word is affirmed to us it produces within us a deeper love for the Holy One and for the Word of God that He has been given to us.

Our faith then continues to grow and is motivated by an ever-deepening revelation of His love for us. Love is truly the factor that causes us to operate in faith. It is our ever-growing love for Him and His Word that deepens and strengthens our faith in Him! If we do not love Him and His Word we will have no foundation by which faith can be activated as released in our lives.

Rev. James W. Black

The Work of God

January 6, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“Then said they unto him, ‘What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?’
Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.’
John 6: 28-29 KJV

So often we think that it is in the doing of particular works that demonstrates the Work of God. While it is certainly true that the Lord Jesus has redeemed us “unto good works” (Eph. 2:10 KJV), and it is equally true that our faith is demonstrated by “good works” (James 2: 17-18), the work of God is far greater than that!

Jesus stated emphatically that the true work of God is believing in Him (totally and completely with all that we are and all that we have. Mark 12:30) . In other words, it is our complete faith and trust in Him that brings genuine and lasting transformation. The work must be done In Us before it can be done Through Us! Everything begins and ends therefore with our believing in Him!

It is our belief in Christ and what He has accomplished for us that brings about salvation. It is our belief in Christ that brings forgiveness. It is our belief in Christ that brings peace with God, with others, and with ourselves. It is our belief in Christ that unleashes the power of the Word of God in us. It is our belief in Christ that releases the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our fellowship. It is our belief in Christ that brings hope. It is our belief in Christ that brings joy. It is our belief in Christ that brings deliverance from the powers of darkness. It is our belief in Christ that brings healing to our bodies, to our lives, to broken relationships, and broken families. It is our belief in Christ that brings purpose and meaning in life. It is our belief in Christ that gives value and meaning to our work and all that we do (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:23). It is our belief in Christ that motivates us to honor Him and serve Him!

Indeed, everything rests upon the fact that we truly believe in Him! This means that we believe that Jesus is Who He says that He is and that He does what He says He will do! Everything that flows into and out of the Christian life rests upon that foundation! (1 Cor. 3:11). This is truly the Work of God!

Rev. James W. Black

The Extravagant Gift of God

December 9, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 KJV

During the Christmas Season, people naturally turn their attention to gifts. Now, there is nothing wrong with the giving and receiving of gifts. It is a way of expressing our love, appreciation, and care for one another. Those who enjoy giving gifts desire to give the “perfect gift” to that special person or persons. They want to give something that will be valued and treasured; something that when the gift is seen or used later they always remember the one who gave them that gift. But this season is not about the gifts we give to one another. Rather it is about the extravagant gift that God has given unto us!

This extravagant gift cannot be purchased or earned in any way (Eph. 2: 8-9). And its value cannot be realized until it is genuinely received. It is only when this gift is gratefully received that genuine transformation occurs. Some transformation occurs immediately (2 Cor. 5:17). Other transformation takes place over a lifetime of embracing, treasuring, and walking in the reality of this precious gift.

In Romans 8:32 the Word of God declares: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (KJV). When it came to us (all of us) God the Father spared no expense. He gave the most valuable possession that He had so that you and I could have eternal life, be a part of His Eternal Family, and live in His Eternal Kingdom.

With His gift, He lavished His incomprehensible love upon us! His gift is rich and extravagant! It is immeasurable! It is eternal! It never gets old. It never goes out of style. It never goes out of date. It never wears out. And it never becomes obsolete. We can never outgrow it and we cannot live without it. It is with us now and will be with us all throughout eternity. It is the perfect gift that ultimately makes us perfect in the sight of a Holy God! There is no other gift like it anywhere! It is indeed one of a kind!
And it should be treasured above all other gifts!

Rev. James W. Black

God’s Rest

November 25, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“And he said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”
Exodus 33:14 KJV

We live in a hectic, fast-paced world. And that pace seems to increase during the Christmas Season. Mothers especially struggle to find time to get everything done during the Holiday Season. It can be overwhelming.

That is why it is important that we realize that God is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). Which essentially means that God has no favorites. That means many things, but in this case, it does mean that God gives each person the same amount of time each day. Everyone gets 24 hours a day. No matter what part of the country or the world we live in each person gets the same amount of time each day. Our tendency, especially as Americans, is to “fill up” every moment of every day. Thus our “stress level” is amplified which affects every aspect of our lives. The remedy for that is learning to enjoy God’s rest.

The “rest of God” begins with being conscious of God’s Presence in our lives as followers of Christ. His Presence is with us constantly whether we “feel it” or not.
The Hebrew word for “rest” in this passage is the word: “nuwach” which means “to settle down, give comfort to, to rest and to be quiet.” (Strongs #5117). The Presence of God comforts us, reassures us, quiets us in the midst of a noisy, busy, and chaotic world, and fills us with His Peace on the inside.

The “rest of God” is a promise to each of God’s children. Just as it was given to Moses and Israel in the wilderness, it is given to us in the wilderness of our lives today. The “rest of God” is the revelation of the Person of Christ, who indwells us. It is becoming conscious that He is with us each day and in each moment of our lives. The consciousness of His indwelling Presence gives us rest. He encourages us. He strengthens us. He guides us and fills us with joy. If we simply take some time to “be still” (Psalm 46:10) we will become conscious of Him. And the consciousness of His Presence gives us rest, even in the midst of busy and tumultuous times.

Rev. James W. Black

The Faithfulness of God

November 18, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”
Deut. 7:9 KJV

One of the most wonderful attributes of God is his faithfulness. When we surrender our lives to Him, He binds Himself to us in a powerful covenant relationship that cannot be broken (John 10:28). He becomes our Heavenly Father and we become His children. We literally become a part of His eternal family.

As our Heavenly Father, He commits himself to us to love us, provide for us, guide us, direct us, watch over us, correct us when necessary (Heb. 12:6), and mold us and shape us into the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). If we are not experiencing these things in our life, we might seriously consider whether or not we are truly walking with Him and belong to Him.

It is as we continue walking with Him that we begin to discover His faithfulness. It is revealed to us day by day. We begin to realize that each day is a “gift from God.” (Psalm 118:24). It is another opportunity to walk with Him and to experience Him in our personal lives. As we begin to walk in obedience to His Word, we begin to see His hand operating in our daily lives. He reveals Himself by affirming the truth and the power of His Word to us as we walk in obedience to it. Sometimes we see Him in the big things. But most often He is working on the little things in our lives. We simply have to align ourselves with Him and ask Him to open our eyes in order to see Him!

In a culture that does not comprehend the meaning of faithfulness, it is comforting to know that there is Someone (The Holy One) Who is always faithful to us. It is a part of Who He is! It is simply a part of what He does! There is no one anywhere who can compare to Him! His faithfulness alone makes it worth following Him! He is the Faithful God!

Rev. James W. Black

Gratitude Is An Expression of Salvation

November 11, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5). For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Psalm 100:4-5 KJV

One of the hallmarks of being truly “born again” is a heart that is full of gratitude! When we consider where we once were, (blinded to the Truth, walking in darkness, totally separated from God and on our way to an eternity in hell, which we justly deserved) and then to be redeemed, washed, and cleansed by His Precious blood; forgiven and made totally righteous in His sight and transferred by the power of the Holy Spirit into His eternal Kingdom, we should be forever filled with heartfelt gratitude for what He has done for us! The awe and wonder of that reality should cause us to be eternally grateful to Him!

Gratitude toward God the Father for His goodness and grace is the normal response of those who follow Christ. Paul the Apostle was forever in awe at the grace of God which would transform him from being one of the greatest enemies of Christ (Acts 9:1-2; Gal. 1:13) to becoming one of His greatest defenders (2 Cor. 11: 23-28). Paul was overwhelmed by the depths of such love! He was eternally grateful for God’s goodness and grace that had been poured out upon him.

Gratitude is expressed through our worship! Genuine worship flows from a heart that is grateful for being redeemed. Such gratitude is spontaneous, genuine, and ongoing. And gratitude is expressed through service

Paul’s unwavering and unselfish service to the Lord Jesus was an expression of his deep gratitude! The Scripture says that those “who have been forgiven much, love much.” (Luke 7:44-48). All that we do for the Lord flows out of our love for Him and is an expression of our gratitude toward Him! Could it be that one of the reasons that so few are willing to serve the Lord in any capacity is that they have forgotten what it means to be grateful? When God’s people live in conscious gratitude, there is never a shortage of servants.

Rev. James W. Black

Author: NCC-Admin-1