August 7th 2020
David_Orr • August 7, 2020
Standing Alone
When sin is in control of your life God does not stand with you and God will not use you. His name cannot be associated in any way with your unrighteous way of living so you stand alone. You stand alone because you can’t serve two Masters (Matthew 6:24 – Luke 16:13). You can't stand God’s Ground when Satan is camped out on yours. You can go to church and read words and sing songs and listen to sermons but live a powerless Christian life. The reason your life is powerless is because you hold to a sin more tightly than you cling to God. There is a stronghold in your life and like a virus in your body – sin in your heart makes your spirit sick. Away from God there is no strength in your life: you have a stronghold of sin demanding tribute and treason against God.
'For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ' 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV. Where does the battle for your mind begin?
A Clean Heart
' Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. ' Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
The first time I read Psalm 51 so many years ago I had already surrendered and come back to God: but my time of rebellion had left me pierced with many arrows of addictions. I was struggling SO hard against my strongholds demanding their way in my life. I realized that even though my spirit stood before God clean: my heart was still filthy. I knew my Salvation was sure but there was so much uncertainty in my heart that I was a spiritual quadriplegic. I reread this Psalm owning every word in the contrition God expects and He began wall busting and cleaning house.
I couldn’t “Stand God’s Ground” when Satan had so much leverage in my life to extort me into submission. David said that only after his heart was cleansed and his joy was restored would he be able to teach transgressors God’s way and Sing God’s Praise. Do what it takes to get rid of the things that keep you from God’s Will and Get right with God? Believe God’s PROMISES and focus on His will and “STAND GOD’S GROUND!” “GOD’S GOT THIS!”
'And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ' Philippians 1:6
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,