November 20th 2020
David_Orr • November 20, 2020
The Light
21' And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” ' Mark 4:21-25 ESV
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.4.21-25 Christ’s Employee or Christ’s Servant
I just realized I am a parable. Satan can’t understand why I don’t cave in and become the pure picture of evil. Satan sees me as someone who has nothing to show for my 34+ years of service. He needs to read Matthew 6:19. The whole point of why I keep going is the good ground my seed grew in. 34 years ago I learned what I was saved from and understand that my work isn’t about earning anything. My service is because I know what I received that night by God’s GRACE. I knew what I deserved and that was what I was trying to accomplish but Jesus gave me SALVATION! That night Jesus shone His Light into my soul and gave me the clear picture of what Salvation is. My work is compelled by my love for my Savior. Employee
An employee works for pay or reward. In all my years of business I refused to be paid before any job was finished. Even though I was self-employed the customer was my boss. I understood my determination would wain if I was already paid even though I had every intention of completion. If someone bid the job cheaper than I: I was happy to let them have it. I had responsibly figured the job to where I made money: working for nothing wasn’t an option. If I worked and they wouldn’t pay I would let them know by my persistence I wasn’t going away. An employee for reward will quit when expectations aren’t met.
I also learned a lesson about “who is the boss of me”. I was tired of working 50 – 90 hours a week and getting paid a fixed salary. I realized I was making the company a lot more money than I was being paid accompanied with much grief. Becoming Self-Employed made me Public Relations, everyone who would pay’s employee, accountant, and service vehicle maintenance. I also had to seek work and plan work schedules, answer the phones and do billing and pay bills. Actually going out and doing what I was trained for was the ONLY joyous job of them all. The pride of being my own boss made me an unwilling slave. The Servant
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 ESV
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.6.24.ESV
Autonomy is an illusion. You live in a spiritual realm where there are only two powers and two masters. Your fallen nature put you under the power of the prince of darkness. That fall happened because EVE wanted to be “As God, knowing good and evil”. Salvation comes when the Son of God comes and takes you out of evil’s clutches. You were in the spiritual condition that you naturally earned and deserve but Jesus rescued you from that darkness. Every action done under your old master even after you are saved is worthless. Every action led by the Light of your new Master goes into the account in Heaven. I am Christ’s property and I will testify that He is a Gracious, AWESOME and loving Master that cherishes me. Will there be rewards in Heaven for me? Only Jesus can judge whether my work is worthy of reward.
Read all the parables of Mark 4? He starts with the parable of the sower and what kind of soil you are depends on you. Get rid of your rocks of pride and weeds of sin and be Christ’s Servant and watch His Word grow?
Ridgecrest Blog
When Jesus Calls: Learning from Matthew’s Story Have you ever wondered what it really means when Jesus calls us to follow Him? This Sunday at Ridgecrest, Pastor Robbie walked us through the powerful story of Matthew the tax collector from Luke 5:27–32, reminding us that Christ’s call always comes with purpose: a call to salvation, a call to service, and a call to share our faith. Jesus Meets Us Where We Are Matthew (also called Levi) wasn’t a man people respected. As a tax collector, he worked for Rome and profited off his own people. Most of his neighbors probably wanted nothing to do with him. Yet on an ordinary day at his tax booth, Jesus walked by and said two simple words: “Follow Me.” 👉 Think about it: Where did Jesus first meet you? Was it in the middle of success, failure, confusion, or hurt? The good news is that Jesus always comes right to where we are. Matthew could have clung to his wealth and his position, but he chose to get up, leave it behind, and follow Christ. That decision changed his life forever. 💡 Encouragement: If you sense Jesus calling you today — whether to salvation, to obedience, or to deeper trust — don’t ignore it. He’s meeting you where you are, just as He met Matthew. A Call to Salvation Pastor Robbie reminded us that Jesus didn’t just stumble upon Matthew. He intentionally sought him out. In the same way, Jesus seeks us out. Salvation is never our idea first — it’s God’s loving pursuit of us. 👉 Reflection Question: Have you personally said “yes” to Jesus’ call of salvation? Do you have a moment when you knew you were done living for yourself and ready to live for Him? If not, today can be that day. Jesus is still calling. A Call to Service Matthew didn’t just believe quietly; he left everything behind to serve Christ. Later, God would use his pen to write the Gospel of Matthew — a gift that still blesses the church today. 👉 Reflection Question: What skills or resources do you have that God might want to use for His Kingdom? Are you willing to place them in His hands? 💡 Encouragement: Following Jesus is never easy, but it’s always worth it. Just as Matthew would never have said, “I regret that decision,” you too will never regret saying yes to Christ’s call to serve. A Call to Share Our Faith One of Matthew’s first actions after meeting Jesus was to host a feast in his home. Why? Because he wanted his friends — other tax collectors and outsiders — to meet Jesus too. Pastor Robbie compared this to winning the lottery. If you had the winning ticket, you wouldn’t keep it to yourself. You’d tell everyone! Yet many of us hide the greatest treasure we’ve ever received: salvation in Christ. 👉 Reflection Question : Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus from you? A family member? A friend? A neighbor? 💡 Encouragement: Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be complicated. It can start with an invitation to your home, a simple conversation, or even a text letting someone know that God loves them. A Call for Us Today At the end of the message, Pastor Robbie reminded us that Jesus is still calling: If He’s calling you to salvation — follow Him. If He’s calling you to baptism — follow Him. If He’s calling you to join this church family — follow Him. If He’s calling you to witness to someone — follow Him. 👉 Final Reflection: What is Jesus calling you to do today? Closing Thought Matthew’s Hebrew name, Levi, meant “chosen.” But after following Jesus, he became known as Matthew — “gift of God.” That’s what happens when we answer the call of Christ: our old identity is replaced with a new one, full of purpose and hope. 💡 Encouragement: Like Matthew, you are chosen. You are loved. And you can become a gift of God to others — if you simply say yes when Jesus calls. 🎥 Jesus Calls Matthew the Tax Collector (The Chosen Scene): youtu.be/7IUL9yq0We8?si=_b2oxrd5gsgcyf-j 🎥 Watch the sermon here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GXL1BEU5Q/
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,