Atlanta Northside Church of God

09/08/2026

Valuable Contents II Corinthian 4:6-7
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

The container should always be of secondary importance to the actual content. This principle speaks truth to the reality of what it means to be a Christian in the Lord’s service. The Apostle Paul calls attention to this truth by calling us “earthen vessels;” clay containers, that are the receptacles of a treasure that is of incalculable wealth.

It’s always a good idea to remember the source of our value. It’s really an ego trip to consider yourself as irreplaceable to the work of God. We are valuable because He chooses to see value in us. He paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross for us. Then as part of the completed work of salvation, He places within us the evidence of His commitment to us; the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is the symbol of our “sealing “of that relationship with Jesus and the Father. (Ephesians 1:13)

We should be honored that Christ sees us as worthy of His love; but we should never find our way to the arrogance that believes we are anything more than the object of His love. We have nothing to bring to this table of transaction. With Him, we become an heir to all things in Heaven and earth. Without Him, we have nothing. Don’t ever lose sight of just how valuable your salvation is!
Bro. Bill

09/07/2026

God Doesn’t Call the Equipped (He Equips the Called) Mark 1:16-17
“And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Why would Christ call Simon and Andrew, fishermen by trade, to be a part of the most important project in the history of mankind? These two were right “off the boat” and walked out of their chosen vocation to become full-time students at the feet of Jesus Christ. Is this the best that Jesus could do? Were there not any brilliant theologians in the Temple? How about the intellectuals that argued the fine points of the Mosaic law in the local synagogues?
I find it comforting that Jesus specifically called “run of the mill” everyday people to join Him in His all-important plan to bring salvation to a lost world. People just like you and me! Nothing about the twelve disciples He called even hinted these men would rise to greatness or spiritual notoriety. That is because they had just begun their walk with Christ. They were yet unskilled at following in the Master’s footsteps. They would learn and eventually set the world ablaze with the gospel.
What about you? Do you feel like you’re up to the task of personal ministry on behalf of others? If you’re unsure, I’ve got good news for you; He can use you today! All it takes is a willing heart to follow the Him and a desire to hear His voice. Allow Christ to equip you for His program and you will experience the joy that comes from being used for His glory. Open your heart and your hands and let Him equip you today!
Bro. Bill

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

Committed to Non-Commitment I Kings 18:21
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”
Elijah had a tough road to travel once he was called to preach to the inhabitants of Israel. Under the rule of Ahab and Jezebel, Israel had grown cold, and indifferent to God. It wasn’t until Elijah’s victory at the big stand-off atop Mt. Carmel where he defeated the prophets of Baal, that the people recognized their sad spiritual predicament.
Their enthusiastic promise to serve the Lord alone would eventually be forgotten and they would return once more to their earlier position of professional “fence straddlers.” They would happily declare themselves to be fair-weather friends of Jehovah and simultaneously claim to be “besties” with Baal. (That’s today’s term for best friends)
Before we criticize those indecisive “fence straddlers,” maybe it’s a good time to evaluate which side of the fence we’re standing on. True acceptance of God and His plans require an absolute commitment which we confirm by taking a stand for Him. He is never impressed with spiritual neutrality, nor will He ignore those who refuse to get off the fence of non-response. Staying on the fence is the same as giving God a no answer to all He offers.
It’s all about where we choose to plant our feet. You can remain in a pit of miry clay, or you can take a firm stand upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Everyone will eventually have to make that decision for themselves. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. It’s the difference between Heaven and Hell.
Bro. Bill

09/04/2026

The Holy Spirit Rehab Hebrews 12:12-13
“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
Have you ever suffered an injury requiring you to commit to a physical rehabilitation program? Anyone who has ever experienced the challenge of rehabbing broken bones, mending muscles, or a surgical procedure adding an implanted device, can certainly identify with the tough road to wellness. The last thing you want to hear from anyone is the annoying “No Pain, No Gain” cliché. Believe me, when I say no one needs to be reminded that healthy progress is always accompanied by annoying discomfort.
As bad as things may be for the physical aspect of your life, there are certain times when the Christian must undergo the long process of healing in spiritual rehab. We have all experienced disappointments in our faith walk with the Lord, leaving us discouraged and emotionally drained. The key to overcoming these discouragements is to attend the Holy Spirit rehab and depend upon His instructions.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to strengthen our hands, stabilize our knees, and learn to walk the straight and narrow path set before us. Our hands are for the work we’re called to do, our knees stabilize us as we take our stand for Christ, and our legs are once again strengthened for us to continue our walk with Him. Rather than dwell on the pain of some undeserved criticism or hardship, focus on the healing awaiting you.
I recall a preacher encouraging believers to get “saved, sanctified, and galvanized” to repel every assault by the evil one. While in Holy Spirit rehab we work through the hurt, so the pain doesn’t remain.
Bro. Bill

09/03/2026

Highs and Lows, Ebbs and Flows Psalm 126:5-6
“Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Do you remember back in the early days of your conversion to Christ when you believed all your problems were behind you? Remember what it felt like to face a new day brimming with confidence and assurance of success? You’ll probably recall that feeling didn’t last too long.
Accepting Jesus didn’t give us immunity from the problems and pitfalls of life, but it did provide us the assurance we would never face difficult situations on our own. The world may never fully appreciate the significance of Christ's abiding presence, but believers certainly can.
The psalmist reminds us even our tears have a purpose for advancing us in our spiritual walk. Those tears are seeds that will eventually turn into a meaningful harvest of blessings. We go forth weeping and then return rejoicing with a bountiful harvest. We don’t always know how long the weeping may endure, but we do know joy will come in the morning. (Psalms 30:5)
Life, whether natural or spiritual, seems to move from one extreme to another. Highs and lows, ebbs, and flows find their way into the storyline of every life. We experience success and failure, wins and losses, spiritual victories, and defeats, often in very quick succession. We happily accept the good things that come our way, but are we willing to trust Him during the tough times? Believing He is going to work all things out for your good is real evidence of Christian maturity. Learn to give Him praise while in the valley, and you’ll be properly prepared for the next mountain top.
Bro. Bill

09/02/2026

The Shadow of the Cross (John 18:37)
“Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
The day will surely come when we shall be informed our life here on earth is ending. Anyone who has ever sat across from the doctor to receive such a pronouncement can certainly identify with the shocking moment we discover the realization of our mortality. Until we have experienced such a conversation, death seems to be a predicament for everyone else.
Can you imagine what it would be like to suddenly have the awareness of how limited your time is? Imagine if you will what it would have been like for Christ to live His entire life knowing all too well when, where, and how, He would meet His appointment with death. Every day of His life the shadow of the cross loomed across His path. What must it have been like for Him to walk past the Roman ex*****on sites only to be reminded of the horrible destination He was moving toward.
Death is not a topic many of us are comfortable with. Death, for Jesus, was the focal point for His earthly ministry. He came into this world as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In His sacrifice on the cross we find forgiveness, eternal life, and introduction into the family of God. Christ despised the cross but loved the results. Without Good Friday there could be no Easter morning. His death brought us eternal life!
Bro. Bill

09/01/2026

Think Before We Speak! * Psalms 141:3 (Traveling Cross Country)
“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Have you ever had to apologize to someone because of hurtful words spoken during a heated conversation? Were you forced to preface your apology with a self-serving explanation to justify those remarks? “I didn’t mean to say what I said to you. I don’t know where that comment came from.” It’s bad enough we are guilty of the verbal offense, let’s not make it worse by adding a lie to the injury.
The truth is that we do know where hurtful words come from. They come from the unchecked thoughts of a careless attitude to our speech. The world takes great pride in “speaking their mind” regardless of the damage done to those who are a part of the conversation. As followers of Jesus, we do not have the luxury, or the liberty, to communicate with words intended to inflict pain or settle scores.
The psalmist reminds us of the importance of allowing God to oversee our words, and to keep mastery over the door of our lips. He ought to always be the filter, that all our words process through. No doubt there are occasions when tough love is shown by way of a difficult conversation; but that truth should always be presented in love.
The preacher said we should think before we speak. T (is it true?) H (is it helpful?) I (is it inspirational?) N (is it necessary?) K (is it kind?) Once we learn to “think” before we speak, we will discover Christ’s way of responding to each interchange. The day will come when we will actually be called to give an account for every word spoken. When the time comes, let’s have a multitude of witnesses confirming our conversations were filled with exhortation and inspiration. Lord help us to “think” before we speak!
Bro. Bill

08/31/2026

“Fishing on the Right Side” John 21:3 (*Traveling Cross Country with Jesus)
”Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing. “They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.”
A frustrated Peter and friends go fishing. It’s painfully obvious to him after seeing his poor performance at the “disciple” gig it was probably best for him to return to his old vocation. Sadly, they spent all night on the water without catching any fish. Jesus appears on the shore and asks the most embarrassing question you can ask frustrated fishermen: “Have you caught anything?” Jesus then offers them non-sensical advice for success. “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you’ll find some.” Sure enough, there was such a huge catch of fish in their nets it almost capsized their boat. Peter, the amateur detective, believed Jesus had given them instructions for success. Nice catch Pete!
This story says a lot about Jesus and His compassionate care for His followers. He didn’t ridicule them for trying to return to fishing; nor did he mock them for wasting night’s effort. Instead, He taught them a valuable lesson. Follow my instructions, and I will see that you succeed far beyond your human abilities.
It’s a great lesson for all to learn. It’s only by His direction, anointing, and leadership that we do anything for His Kingdom. Not one of those skilled fishermen would dare take credit for their early morning bounty. With the Holy Spirit indwelling our hearts, and with His direction, we may learn to fish on the “right” side of the boat. We too will always know who to give credit and glory to. He is Jesus, the original “Fisher of Men!”
Bro. Bill