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The Power of Pentecost

The Power of Pentecost

June 10, 2023 by NCC-Admin-1 in

But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 KJV).

The Power of Pentecost is the Power of the Holy Spirit!  The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead.  It was the Holy Spirt Who hovered over the darkness and the deep waters at the very beginning of creation,  bringing order out of chaos (Gen. 1:2).  It was the Holy Spirit Who Jesus promised to send to all of us after His resurrection (John 14: 16-18).  It was the Holy Spirit Who birthed the Church (Acts 2:1-3).  And it was the Holy Spirit who turned fearful men into mighty and powerful witnesses for Jesus after Pentecost (Acts 4:19-20). 

Every soul that is born again is born again by the Power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6). Every child of God who experiences the assurance of their salvation is assured by the Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8: 15-16).   Every healing that takes place takes place because of the Power of the Holy Spirit.  Every person that is delivered from bondage (addiction, anger, bitterness, depression, fear, worry, etc.) is delivered because of the Power of the Holy Spirit.  Every redeemed child of God who has the assurance of eternal life has that assurance because of the Power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2: 9-12).  We can neither live nor function with confidence and effectiveness without the Power of the Holy Spirit.  We are totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit in all things pertaining to the King and the Kingdom!  The Work of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the effort of man.   

The Power of the Holy Spirit operating in and through His Redeemed is unstoppable!(Rom. 8:31). The gates of hell cannot prevail against a powerful spirit-filled church (Matt. 16:18).   It is only the Power of the Holy Spirit Who births and sustains revival (Acts 19:17-20).   It is only the Power of the Holy Spirit that brings conviction of sin (John 16:8).   It is only the Power of the Holy Spirit that sets people free.  We need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit individually and corporately so that the life of Christ and the Power of Christ might be manifested in an unbelieving world. We need once again, the Power of Pentecost!  Holy Spirit come and reveal the glory of Jesus to us afresh and anew! 

Rev. James W. Black

The Invitation

The Invitation

July 16, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in

 

“And as he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the seat of custom, and said unto him, Follow me.  And he arose and followed him.” (Mark 2:14 KJV).  

The invitation Jesus extended to Matthew is the same he offers  to us: “Follow me.”   It is interesting to note that Jesus did not ask him to join the movement, or to join the group or to become a part of the cause.  His invitation was clear, direct, simple and yet profound:  “Follow me”.

That is the  essence of  the Christian life.  It is not just being a part of a movement or being part of a group or engaging in a cause.  It is simply “Following Him.”  He does not ask us to lead.  He does not ask us to take charge. He simply asks us to follow Him. We often complicate what it means to be Christian.  We sometimes offer others our own particular set of rules and regulations. Without realizing it, we want others to be conformed to us. We want others to conform to our church or to our particular tribe. When in reality, we are simply called to Follow Jesus. The amazing thing is that is that when we simply “Follow Him” He brings about amazing transformation!  In fact it is impossible to “Follow Jesus” and not be transformed.   

One of the reasons so few follow Jesus is because they still want to be in charge. They want to be in control. They want to lead. They do not want to follow. And they do not want to be transformed.  You see Following Jesus is the same as it has always been.  We must leave where we are in order to go to where He is.  We must leave where we are in order to arrive to where He is going.  

When Jesus invites us to follow, we each must make the choice.  Will we follow Him or not?  He does not drive us.  He does not coerce us.  He does not push us.  He simply asks us to come and follow Him. And if we choose to follow, He then supernaturally provides everything that is needed to do so.  

When Matthew accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, everything changed. His occupation changed. His walk changed. His status changed. His entire life changed. He would never be the same again. And some 2,000 years after he accepted the invitation, Matthew is still remembered as one who Followed Jesus!  Had he not followed, it is very likely that no one would even know who he is!  

Rev. James W. Black

The Lord Has Made Every Provision For Us To Live A Godly Life

The Lord Has Made Every Provision For Us To Live A Godly Life

July 10, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in

 

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that had called us to glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV) 

When we surrendered our life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit came and took up residence inside our inner man (our spirit).   In that moment of the “new birth” ( John 3:3), we received the “divine nature” of Christ Himself! (2 Pet. 1:4, Col. 1:27). This “divine power” now within us, enables us and empowers us to live a life that is not only pleasing to God the Father but also a life that will bring Him glory in the earth!  In essence, the Lord has made every provision for us to live a godly life!  

As we begin this new life in Christ, we soon discover a new conflict we did not expect! That conflict is the “old nature” that is still very much alive within us. This “old nature” does not like submitting to the “new nature.”  It has been dethroned.  It is no longer in charge. Therefore the “old nature” seeks every opportunity to re-assert itself.  At times we find ourselves in a struggle.  But the fact that we experience the conflict is another proof that our new life in Christ is real because before Christ we did not have the struggle. (Rom. 7:22-23).  

The key to releasing this  “divine power” in our life is growing in our knowledge of Jesus. It is more than just head knowledge.  It is experiential knowledge that comes from stepping out in faith, trusting Him, and simply doing what He teaches us to do in His Word.   As we do,  His power is released in us and our knowledge of Christ grows deeper. As we grow in Him, we receive a greater understanding of just how much He truly loves us. As we grow in Him, we have a greater understanding of what He has actually accomplished for us. As we grow in Him, we learn more about how to surrender to Him. As we grow in Him, we learn more about what it means to enthrone Him in our life.  As we grow in Him, we learn more about the Holy Spirit and how He empowers us to live for Christ.

As we grow in Him, we discover that we don’t need more faith, more strength, more power, or anything else.  We discover that He has already given us everything that we need.  All that is required is to surrender to Him continually and draw upon all the resources of Heaven that is readily available to us.  

Rev. James W. Black

The Responsibility of Freedom

The Responsibility of Freedom

July 3, 2022 by NCC-Admin-1 in

 “[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but[ live at all times]  as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16 AMPC).  

The Apostle Peter is reminding the followers of Christ that Jesus did indeed come to set us free from the bondage of sin (John 8:36).  But with that freedom comes the responsibility of living as Children of God before Him and the world.  Our freedom is not a license to live a sinful lifestyle!  

Some in the Body of Christ think that their freedom means that they can live any way they wish and it doesn’t  matter because the Lord loves them and will forgive them.  That attitude reflects  that they neither value nor appreciate the love of God; nor do they understand His Holiness!

God’s purpose in redemption is to bring into His Family a people that reflect and reveal Him to a darkened world.  The life of Christ is not revealed through “legalism” (rules of do’s and don’ts) but rather through a love relationship that is motivated  by a desire to  to please the Holy One in the way way that we live.  The Good News of the gospel is that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live the very life that He calls us to live.  

It is no longer a matter of struggling and striving but rather a matter of hearing and obeying what He would have us do.  There is great freedom in that!  Let us so walk in our freedom that others may see it and be drawn to that same freedom we have experienced in Him!

Rev. James W. Black