November 23rd 2020
David_Orr • November 23, 2020
The Light
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” ' Luke 11:33-36 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.11.33-36
Testing the Light within You
Read the whole Chapter if you want but the Focus is going to be on verses 33-54.
The REAL LIGHT that the Holy Spirit gives shines discernment on our situations and shows how things really are. That Light that saves our souls also shows us how ugly sin is. The Light gives us understanding of the eternal Condemnation we were saved from. That understanding should carry over to the thought that everyone we know needs to know Jesus. How things Look (false light)
In verses 37 – 44 Jesus condemns Pharisee light by pointing out their goal was to make things look good. They scrubbed the outside of their human vessel with ritual washings but didn’t understand the cleanliness of the inside. It’s really pretty simple – making things look good doesn’t make things good. Taking care of business on the inside and getting rid of bad thinking makes it good. Real LIGHT also understands that we can’t do that without Jesus guiding it.
My house is still not clean but I came to the understanding that to make it truly clean I had to throw things out. If I was saving something to build something good out of it I built what I intended. Or if I understood that it was beyond my ability at this time I built shelves to store it. But if I understood it was useless and I never would finish that I threw it out. Then I understood God was showing me the way to deal with my internal space for the Holy Spirit to dwell. It’s hard to understand but the room is always brighter when the LIGHT has room to Shine. Space clean and organized welcomes the Light to make it known.
Jesus also likened the Pharisee to a decorated tomb that was beautiful outside but death and decay inside. I have seen houses that looked neglected outside with the most welcoming spaces and people inside. Compare them to magnificent tombs that are beautiful outside but worms that eat flesh are the only things living within. The tomb is sealed to keep the smell of death inside which keeps light from entering also. A joyous dwelling has Light shining through the windows into a dark outside world. Light stood before the Pharisees and they refused to let Him in. Knowledge without Light
The Scribe or Lawyer as the ESV names them spent all day everyday meticulously copying God’s Word. They prided themselves on being the ones that were experts in God’s Law: our copy machines know more than them. Like the Pharisee was kept from the Kingdom of Heaven by appearances the Scribe by pride in Knowledge. They were about “WHO I AM!” and didn’t even get the meanings of the words they copied. The light in them was indeed darkness: they weren’t saved by what they saw or knew. The TRUE LIGHT stood before them and they didn’t let Him in. Without the LIGHT in us it is impossible for Light to come from us. Knowing Jesus puts the LIGHT inside your very soul and He shines through you. Those “Woeful” groups of People were acquainted with Jesus; they saw Him and heard Him but they never knew Him.
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,