January 5th 2021
David_Orr • January 5, 2021
Faith that Works
Who was James
' James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. ' James 1:1 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JAS.1.1
The first verse of his epistle says everything that is really necessary “James a Servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.” There are 4 James’ he could have been – James the brother of John (James the Greater) was beheaded (Mark 1:19). A man they call “James the Lesser” who was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18). James who was the father of Judas (not Iscariot)(Luke 6:16). And James the half-brother of Jesus. So Who was it. If you haven’t noticed I abhor distraction. While this is a discussion that has consumed much study it is fruitless because it is all “What We Think”. Let us look at what he wrote and evaluate according to God’s Word. Just WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS!
That’s what all the fury and fuss is really about: you can relax because James the Whichever is in Heaven. He is where all Servants of Christ go after they die – in the complete presence of Jesus. Get over yourself! He isn’t evaluating your faith by your accomplishments but the full power of God can’t be of no effect. If you want to feel good listen to Freddy Feel-Good and His Funky little Five piece Band. If you want to evaluate your own faith read the Epistle of James.
Brother Robbie tells the story of when he worked for his dad on their farm and their tractor was in the shop. The dealer loaned them a 4 wheel drive Versatile tractor to use while they fixed theirs. I imagine the 14 foot disk he was pulling wasn’t even as wide as the wheels of that monster. Jesus working through His Holy Spirit in us is much more of a contrast than that. Imagine the Ship Engine in today’s picture in a tractor pulling a toothpick. The only way we can not accomplish heavenly things in this world is if we aren’t connected to Jesus’ Power. Tomorrow we do just as James did – we dive right in with “Testing your Faith”. Please put aside all your indignation and do as I plan to – Evaluate what James wrote in the LIGHT. Is he Biblically Correct?
Accomplishing what God wants in your life is solely based if you are connected to His Awesome Power. When the saved person actually gets hooked up to Jesus some plowing is going to happen. He will make a difference in you and you in turn will make a difference in this world. His Awesome power will do multitudes of things in you that you can’t accomplish on your own. Working out our Salvation with fear and trembling is just taking special care that your connection is not hindered. When you start seeing God accomplish things fear and trembling will be also an awesome natural reaction. Standing in the devil’s way takes you having confidence in the POWER and Authority telling you to stand. “Dis Gonna Be Good Ain’t it Gampaw?”
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,