August 24th 2020
David_Orr • August 24, 2020
Standing God’s Ground
STAND IN THE GAP!
I usually write Monday’s Devotional on Sunday night to keep from writing in my usual Monday morning “Baditude” but I watched an hour long Podcast last night from “The Bible Project” on YouTube on Satan (Translated Adversary) and I have been overwhelmed ever since. In Genesis 3 I thought Satan had took on the form of a snake but the Bible Project guys translated it from the original Hebrew as Seraph. Lucifer (Latin) was a Seraphim! He was the song leader in Heaven before He fell. He was one of the Seraphim that flew around God’s Throne with wings covering his face and feet singing HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. Eve was deceived by one of God’s 3 lead angels and part of his punishment was to crawl on the ground. He went from a glorious Creature with 6 magnificent wings to a vile creature in the dust.
It is said that Moloch, Chemosh, Dagon, Belial, Beelzebub and Satan were the leaders of the rebellion against God. We think them all but Satan to be false gods of stone, wood and gold: but they are real Demons. God took down a curtain in my life last night where I saw things that shook my feelings of security. It was a false sense of security of choosing not to see things that are really there. I lay on the day bed in front of the TV bewildered at what those 2 men were discussing. Seraphim is translated as serpents and “Burning Ones” they say were Fiery Serpents that bit Israel in the wilderness. Fallen angels God allowed past His protection to chastise Israel. The Gap
Fear or Faith?
So, understanding that what I thought was haphazard coincidences of Evil is all meticulously planned should bring what response? My “Happy Bubble” was popped and my thinking can’t go back to the way it was yesterday afternoon: can it? I don’t think those 2 men were telling us their findings to scare and deter us from doing what God has called. I am notorious for walking around in my own little world and since Jesus is here all is good: RIGHT? Why would Jesus pull back the curtain and show me scary things? The Reality of the Threat
Just my size
The gap I am to stand in is no bigger than my own reach: God is God and I’m not. All these months of study on faith building were leading up to this point: where the rubber meets the road. We began last December digging up prophecies of Jesus out of the Old Testament seeing He is who He says. And we built on that in January going through Hebrews 11 about faith. We studied about “Building a Wall”, fighting fear and understanding Grace: culminating in this understanding that “We ARE THE WALL!” Together we stand against our Adversary (Satan) the devil keeping him from devouring. God is God and He stands with you if He ordered you to stand where you are standing.
I didn’t have to fight for God’s peace this morning: He gave it. When I tried to relate to God what I am understanding: He said “SO WHAT. Did I cease to be God?” So we learn more so we can do more and help more: God’s Got This!
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,