August 20th 2020
David_Orr • August 20, 2020
Standing God’s Ground
The Warrior The biggest part of my illness is my legs. I did many stupid things when I was young that injured my legs repeatedly. What used to be the strongest part of me is now probably the weakest. Broken blood vessels and broken bones have caused circulation problems. My legs swell because the blood has trouble coming back to the upper part of my body. The poor circulation makes them injure easily and heal very slowly. With my weakness I understand difficulty standing. But I went to the wound healing doctor and they prescribed leg compression wraps. The pressure makes the swelling go down and makes the blood continue back upwards and I am able to stand again. Who We Stand Against
Before I knew what Sleep Apnea was I woke up in the middle of the night fighting for breath. I knew I had quit breathing. When I woke up there was a vision of white and dark red light swirling above my head. In my bewildered oxygen deprived mind I understood an angel had just drove off a demon trying to kill me. You can call it a hallucination if you want: whether it is actually true or not it is spiritually true. Satan would kill every living thing if he was more powerful than God: but he isn’t. The Same Futility
When you decide to stand in God’s Hosts you become a target to Satan. In trying to oppose the almighty, omniscient and omnipresent God he concentrates on those who are a threat. He doesn’t understand God is keeping every living soul alive without effort while he panics to destroy what he can. Without God you are multitudes of times less powerful than Satan. His weakest demon could end you in a heartbeat with effortlessness if God wasn’t more powerful.
Your eternal and daily Salvation are both Works of God just like the earth you stand on and the water you drink. Not standing for God in His strength doesn’t put you behind the lines but between. When you were lost you were in Satan’s crew: when you accept Christ you become one of God’s warriors. You crossed the battlefield from the losing side to the winning. When you struggle with deciding which way you want you are a human between two supernatural beings in constant battle. God’s Provision
To understand the nature of a warrior in Christ it is necessary to look at what God provides. The tools fit the orders.
'Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ' Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV
God would not order you to stand somewhere that He wouldn’t provide the tools and strength you need. Like the last battle that will ever be the battle against Lucifer is Christ’s alone: you are just the line. You are the line that says “God says you Shall not PASS!” God’s Warrior gets in Satan’s way and says “God SAID NO!” There is no Armor for the back of the Disciple of Christ: if you turn away you are exposed. Everything God gives us is for facing the enemy and doing what next week is about “Standing in the Gap”.
'Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ' Ephesians 6:13 ESV
Your tools -
Armor Item - Purpose - Verse #
1. Belt of Truth - To keep your focus securely in place - 14
2. Breastplate of righteousness – to protect your heart (Proverbs 4:23 - 14
3. Gospel Shoes - Salvation’s leg wraps to help stand and lead to Jesus -15
4. Shield of Faith - Protection from Satan’s evil launched at you - 16
5. Helmet of Salvation – Thought filter against Satan’s schemes - 17
6. Sword of the Spirit - God’s WORD that slices Satan’s lies - 17
7. 'praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ' Ephesians 6:18 ESV
God’s Warrior stands against evil and lead’s Satan’s prisoners to Jesus under his very nose.
Ridgecrest Blog
There’s a difference between walking near someone and walking with them. It's a difference you can feel. I don’t just want to walk beside my wife—I want to hold her hand, to wrap my arm around her, to stay close. And in the same way, God doesn't just want us to stroll behind Him at a safe distance. He wants us right next to Him. Closer than close. The Bible makes that clear—again and again. In fact, one of the most beautiful things is when the same truth is spoken in both the Old and New Testaments. That’s when we know God is driving a point home. Take James in the New Testament. He gives us four practical, life-changing steps that can draw us closer to God: Depend on the Savior Deny the devil Desire to sin less Delight in selflessness These aren’t just catchy phrases—they’re daily actions. They’re reminders that we’re not strong enough to live this life on our own. We need help. We need a Savior. And when we lean on Him, He promises to draw near to us. That message isn’t new. It echoes through Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” This ancient wisdom from Solomon aligns perfectly with James. Why? Because truth doesn’t change. God's Word is living, consistent, and always calling us to take that next step closer to Him. Maybe you’re reading this and you feel distant from God. Maybe you’ve been walking on autopilot—doing the right things, going to church, saying the prayers—but deep down, you know there’s a gap. Here's the good news: If you’re not close to God right now, it’s not because He moved. He’s still there. Still waiting. Still inviting. “Draw near to me,” God says, “and I will draw near to you.” That word “draw” isn’t passive. It’s personal. In the original language, it carries the idea of reaching out and hugging someone. That’s the kind of closeness God wants. Not cold religion, but a warm relationship. An embrace. An arm around your shoulder. And if you’ve never experienced that before—if you’ve never known what it’s like to walk hand-in-hand with Jesus—it’s not too late. All you have to do is ask. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Admit you can’t save yourself. Believe that only Jesus can. He will meet you there. Every time. And if you’re already a believer? There’s still room to grow. Every single one of us could walk a little closer to Jesus than we did yesterday. None of us have arrived. And the beautiful part is—He’s not asking for perfection. He’s just asking for your heart. So today, let’s take those steps. Let’s depend. Deny. Desire. Delight. Let’s walk a little closer. Let’s hold His hand. And let’s never let go. Closing Thought: Wouldn’t it feel good to be hugged tight by Jesus? That’s not just poetic. That’s possible. Because He’s reaching out right now—waiting for you to reach back.
We are proud to share that Ridgecrest Baptist Church has been a part of the efforts supporting Together We Foster, an organization dedicated to serving the foster care community of Northeast Arkansas.
Welcome to Ridgecrest Baptist Church! We're thrilled to have you join us today for a time of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Whether you're a long-time member or visiting for the first time, your presence enriches our community. Let's open our hearts to receive God's word and blessings together. Thank you for joining us at our VBS closing celebration! Today, our kids will receive certificates, perform a special song for parents, and enjoy a slideshow/video highlighting this week's exciting activities. Stick around after the service for a celebration meal with all families. Blessings,
Happy Father's Day! Welcome to Ridgecrest Baptist Church as we celebrate and honor all fathers today. Whether you're a father, a father figure, or celebrating with a father, we're delighted to have you join us for worship and fellowship. Let's take this opportunity to reflect on the blessings of fatherhood and the love of our Heavenly Father. May today's service uplift and inspire you! "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." - Psalm 112:1-2 (ESV) Blessings,