And He has swallowed up death forever and when all wickedness will be removed from the earth and put away where it belongs and He will wipe away every tear. And those that were ostracized, persecuted, tortured, and killed for clinging to God in His Righteousness in Christ will have their reproach removed for eternity. We left the thought of the lesson Wednesday morning but the purpose of this series is not to teach the lesson for Sunday School: we have a group of very capable teachers for that. The purpose for these explorations of Messianic Prophesy in the Old Testament is for our assurance: we can observe that God kept His Word in sending Jesus and that His plan has never been frantic as we feel when everything seems to be contrary to us. In knowledge we can observe every obstacle and interference has been planned for and in every case actually used to bring Glory to God: and God revealed much of it to us a long time before it happened. We have no problems focusing on the waves that intend to swallow us and drown us in the darkness: but God’s Word is able to lift us above the waves and give us spiritual footing when things look impossible. We can look back to the past and see God knew every detail of how History would unfold as we see the visions of Daniel explained by Gabriel… the same messenger Archangel that told Zechariah of the birth of His Son John and Mary concerning Jesus and know God knew every kingdom that would rule the world from then until the end. We can then transfer that knowledge gained through hindsight to what is going on in our lives today and look for the ways God has provided us to work this present time for His Glory and Grace. Then we can look at the prophecies remaining unfulfilled and through faith know God will keep His Word to us. There will probably be some of these prophecies in the coming weeks that leave the thoughts of the Sunday School Lesson for that week as this week did: but the purpose of this series is of a broad scope covering many prophecies of Christ and why we should be steadfast in our belief and ready to step out on faith and do those things He has instructed us and led us to be about doing. I hope we will gain the courage to be the ministers of the Gospel that Jesus wants us to be.
More Prophecies in Isaiah for next week!December 7th 2019
David_Orr • December 10, 2019
And He has swallowed up death forever and when all wickedness will be removed from the earth and put away where it belongs and He will wipe away every tear. And those that were ostracized, persecuted, tortured, and killed for clinging to God in His Righteousness in Christ will have their reproach removed for eternity. We left the thought of the lesson Wednesday morning but the purpose of this series is not to teach the lesson for Sunday School: we have a group of very capable teachers for that. The purpose for these explorations of Messianic Prophesy in the Old Testament is for our assurance: we can observe that God kept His Word in sending Jesus and that His plan has never been frantic as we feel when everything seems to be contrary to us. In knowledge we can observe every obstacle and interference has been planned for and in every case actually used to bring Glory to God: and God revealed much of it to us a long time before it happened. We have no problems focusing on the waves that intend to swallow us and drown us in the darkness: but God’s Word is able to lift us above the waves and give us spiritual footing when things look impossible. We can look back to the past and see God knew every detail of how History would unfold as we see the visions of Daniel explained by Gabriel… the same messenger Archangel that told Zechariah of the birth of His Son John and Mary concerning Jesus and know God knew every kingdom that would rule the world from then until the end. We can then transfer that knowledge gained through hindsight to what is going on in our lives today and look for the ways God has provided us to work this present time for His Glory and Grace. Then we can look at the prophecies remaining unfulfilled and through faith know God will keep His Word to us. There will probably be some of these prophecies in the coming weeks that leave the thoughts of the Sunday School Lesson for that week as this week did: but the purpose of this series is of a broad scope covering many prophecies of Christ and why we should be steadfast in our belief and ready to step out on faith and do those things He has instructed us and led us to be about doing. I hope we will gain the courage to be the ministers of the Gospel that Jesus wants us to be.
More Prophecies in Isaiah for next week!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,