November 26th 2020
David_Orr • November 26, 2020
The Light
The Error of Human Thinking
People still hold to the lie that deep down all people are good: the fallen nature is against God. God says -
10 'as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” ' Romans 3:10-18 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.3.10-18
Whatever the appearance of the effort of the human being to save the world or themselves it clings to condemnation. The fallen nature is self-focused on what the person can accomplish in themselves. The person that has come to the Light wants God’s work to be known because Jesus saves souls. “Look at me! I can sit behind a computer screen and type words!” My words can’t save me so how could they save you. But if we look into God’s Word (Jesus) we see the Light of His Salvation.
' “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ' John 3:16 ESV https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.3.16
Those Words of Light change people’s eternity and the person they are on the inside as well. Jesus starts by resurrecting the dead spirit within us and dwelling through His Holy Spirit in our Spirit. Then He begins to redeem our minds by changing our process of thought to His Word through His Word. And at last our Bodies will be changed into an incorruptible body worthy to dwell in God’s presence. We go through a 3-fold transformation that completely redeems us from the darkness. We say “Body Soul and Spirit but that is actually backwards because the process begins with our Spirit. When we dwell in the Light of Christ’s Testimony we want to bring as many others to the Light as we are able. We want the lost to see Jesus.
You can tell the nature of a work by whether you want it known or not. Use today’s scripture to evaluate the things in your life. Jesus’ work in us frees us from our own condemnation (See John 3:18) We were already condemned. The knowledge of who He is and our surrender of our way to His is the Light that makes us free. That should pour a desire into you that points everyone in your circle of influence to Him. Not drawing attention to you but showing others Jesus.
God is Good, Jesus is Good, The Holy Spirit is GOOD! We are human and we are not good by our own nature. Our nature is of the darkness and is drawn to the darkness. The New Creature created in Christ Jesus lives in His Light and makes His Grace known to all. To claim anyone but God is good you have to rebel against what God plainly said. There are NO LIES in our Righteous God. Proclaim His Goodness and shine His Light into Satan’s darkness!
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,