2024 - Page 4 of 5 - NCC Cartersville

What Is Sin?

March 17, 2024 by James Black in Pastor's Corner

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
James 4:17 KJV

We live in a culture that has all but lost any consciousness of sin. Because the culture has abandoned Biblical Truth, we have no standard by which sin can be recognized or identified. We have become much like it was during the days of The Judges (10th Century BC) when “every man did that was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6 KJV). But the Word of God declares that we “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”(Rom. 3:23 KJV).

But what is sin? How do we define it? We normally think of sin as doing certain things that are bad. And while such things are certainly sinful, that still does not describe what it is. In reality sin is more than our outward actions. (Matthew 5: 27-28).

Major Ian Thomas in his classic book, The Indwelling Life of Christ, defines sin very clearly. He says, “Sin is anything that falls short of God’s glory, so that God will evaluate sin as any behavior that falls short of what He does, what He says, and what He is. Sin therefore, is exposed simply by relating our behavior to God’s behavior. God is perfect and by that perfection you and I recognize sin, because sin is anything that falls short of His perfection. God Himself is therefore the only standard by which sin is recognizable.” (Page 49).

Sin, therefore, can only be recognized in the light of God Himself! In the light of God’s perfect holiness, we become keenly aware of our imperfection. (Isaiah 6: 1-5). And we see that anything that is not perfect is sin! Such a realization means that all of us are in trouble! We all fall short of God’s Holy perfection! Such a revelation of His holiness and perfection, causes us to want to try to hide from His Presence (Gen. 3:8).

But the Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus has paid for all our sin in full! (Col. 2: 12-15). And He has give, to all who will receive it, His very own righteousness and perfection! (2 Cor.5:21). Therefore because of His finished work on the cross , He now welcomes all who have received His very own righteousness into His Presence! And we are completely accepted by Him! Oh, what a Savior we have in Jesus!

Being Conscious of God’s Goodness

March 9, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
Psalm 107:8-9 KJV

The goodness of God is poured out upon all of humanity. The scripture reminds us that the Lord provides sunshine and rain for everyone; both the redeemed and the unredeemed. (Matthew 5:45). In a farming economy, the proper amounts of sun and rain are essential to having a good harvest. In other words, both the redeemed and the unredeemed experience the goodness of God. But only the redeemed have the ability to recognize it.

To the unredeemed, good things are considered as luck, chance, or happenstance. But to the redeemed, good things are recognized as the favor and blessing of God! The redeemed recognize that the source of all blessings comes from God! The unredeemed, because of the darkness of their mind, are blinded to the source of all blessings. The scripture reminds us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17).

Because of our relationship with God the Father, through the finished work of Christ, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit within us, our eyes have been opened to the reality of God’s continuous blessing in our lives. We are able to recognize the goodness of God! As a result, we are (or should be) moved with a desire to give honor, glory, and praise to the One who has blessed us so abundantly!

However, even the redeemed can get so busy with the daily demands of life that we can take the blessings of God for granted. It is important, therefore, for us to take some time each day to reflect on the faithfulness of God and the goodness of God in our lives. When we do, our hearts will be filled with a greater consciousness of God and His goodness! Which will cause our hearts to overflow with gratitude and praise toward Him!

Rev. James Black

The Bread of Life

March 2, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35 NKJV

To me, there is nothing better than freshly baked bread! In the abundance of our culture, we often take bread for granted. But to those in the 1st Century, especially to the common everyday people, bread was essential for life. For many, it was a struggle each day just to provide enough bread for their family. When Jesus declared that He was the Bread of Life it was a term that got everyone’s attention. There was a reason that Jesus compared Himself to bread!

Bread is good! Bread feeds us. Bread sustains us. Bread nourishes us. Bread strengthens us. And bread satisfies us! Jesus is the revelation and the embodiment of all these things.

The character and nature of Jesus is good. The Psalmist declared: “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8). Jesus is the revelation of all of the goodness of God! In order to discover this reality, we must receive Him and take Him into our lives. It is Jesus who feeds the longing of our soul to find value, meaning, and purpose in life. It is Jesus who sustains us daily, moment by moment. Our very next heartbeat is dependent upon Him! It is Jesus who strengthens us in our weakness and enables us to do what we could never do on our own. (John 15:5). It is Jesus who satisfies us and brings contentment in life. It is Jesus who reveals to us just how valuable we are to Him by sacrificing His very own life for us! And It is Jesus who sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us, teach us, guide us, and enable us to hear and understand the Word of God.

Unlike the natural bread which must be received again and again, Jesus continually, constantly, and forever satisfies us once and for all! We never have to be spiritually empty or hungry again!

Rev. James Black

A Prayer for Revival

February 24, 2024 by NCC-Admin-1 in Pastor's Corner

“Oh that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence.”
Isaiah 64:1 NKJV

Isaiah was heartbroken over the condition of his people. The nation of Judah had ignored the many warnings of God to return unto Him, but in their pride and arrogance, they refused to listen! Therefore, God had withdrawn His hedge of protection and brought judgment upon them. Their country was decimated by their enemies. The city of Jerusalem was sacked and their beloved Temple, which to them represented the very Presence of God, was in ruins. Everything that God had warned them would happen had happened. Isaiah 63:19 vividly describes their condition: “We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, those who were never called by Your name.” (NKJV).

Isaiah understood that the only thing that would change the heart of that generation was a mighty visitation of God! In other words, a genuine revival! In desperation, he cried out for the Lord to: “rend the heavens and come down”. Only the undeniable, Holy, and Sovereign manifestation of God’s Presence in their midst could change their hearts and restore the nation!

As we witness the decline of our nation and its headlong abandonment of the only true and living God; the One who has preserved us and blessed us from the very beginning as a nation; we must realize that our only hope for salvation, preservation and restoration as a nation is God! Therefore let us genuinely humble ourselves in brokenness and repentance before the Lord and desperately cry out to Him as Isaiah did! Let us ask the Lord to have mercy upon us one more time! Our only hope lies in God and God alone!

Rev. James Black

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

The Eternity of the Word of God

February 11, 2024 by James Black in Pastor's Corner

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 NKJV

One thing that scripture affirms again and again is that the Word of God is eternal! Before there was anything, there was The Word of God (John 1:1). Before the universe and the world was ever created there was the Word of God. Before there was ever a written document, the Bible, there was the Word. The scripture informs us that this Word is a Person! And that this Person is God! (John 1:1). God Himself is eternal.
“From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psalm 90:2 NKV). Therefore, the Word, who is God, is eternal!

This Word, which spoke everything into existence (Gen. 1:3), is revealed in the written Word. This written Word was spoken by the same Spirit who created all things (John 1:3). This Word stepped out of eternity into time and became clothed in human flesh (John 1:14). And for the first time, the invisible God became visible! (John 14:9, Col. 1:15). Each expression of the Word, The Spirit (John 4:4), the Written document (2 Tim. 3:16), and the Person [Jesus] (Heb. 1:3), all reveal and compliment the other. Thus the Word of God is both living and eternal and becomes the standard by and through which all things are understood and measured!

The Word of God has been attacked and ridiculed by so-called intellectuals. Dictators and tyrannical governments have sought to destroy it. But all of those who have sought to destroy it in the past are dead. And those who seek to destroy it now will experience the same fate! But the Word of God still lives. And it continues to live because it is eternal! This Living and Eternal Word produces New Life through the New Birth and guarantees eternal life to all who will receive it (John 3:16)!

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

Year: 2024