The Gospel As Presented By Erick Ludy

This is a precious video! It is about the Gospel and is presented by Eric Ludy. He has been influenced by some of the people I have, including Charles Spurgeon and George Whitfield to David Wilkerson and Keith Green. I smiled when I read "Keith Green".  His song "Asleep In The Light" impacted me mightily when I as a prodigal returned to my Father. You can read more about Eric Ludy at the bottom or go to the website listed. As always, be a Berean and judge what the teachers are saying by the written Word of God, the scriptures.

BRIEF SPIRITUAL HISTORY
Eric Ludy was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, December 17th of 1970 to Winston and Barbara Ludy, a strong Christian couple who highly valued the Scriptures and were hungry to live out an authentic Christian life.  His parent’s convictions proved a strong influence upon his young soul, and Ludy yielded his life to the Person of Jesus at the age of five while sitting on his mother’s lap.  Ludy grew up exposed to many differing denominational perspectives within the Christian church tradition but never proved either hungry for spiritual matter or thirsty for greater understanding of the Kingdom of his Lord throughout his pre-college years. His mother and sister believed strongly in the power of prayer and wielded their confidences in the direction of God winning over Ludy’s young soul.  The effect was quite dramatic.  For though he had never showed much of a spiritual spark of givenness to the great Gospel commission since his commitment at the age of five, in his Whitworth College dorm room on February 2nd, 1990, Ludy encountered God Almighty and was forever altered.  “My new life began that day!” Ludy declares.  It was after reading the book, No Compromise - the Life Story of Keith Green, that everything seemed to suddenly click, and Ludy found himself on his knees before the Living God letting go of life as he had always known it. “From that day,” Ludy says, “I have been all about Jesus Christ.” 

HIS DENOMINATION

When Eric Ludy is asked about his denominational leanings, he very simply says, “Just stick Leonard Ravenhill, C.T. Studd, Hudson Taylor, Rees Howells, and Charles Spurgeon into a blender, and that’s pretty close to what I believe.”  Ludy is a “deeper life” advocate, a strong proponent of the supremacy of Christ and of the sufficiency of the Word of God.  

The following is the dedication in the front of his Ellerslie Training Curriculum:  

I have found spiritual gold in many different places throughout my life.  Outside of my dear parents and Leslie’s parents, there are twenty-six greats (from the past two centuries) that have most influenced my Christian thinking and living in our modern times.  And since their thoughts are found speckled throughout these notes, I wish to honor them here, as a reminder to all the students gleaning wisdom from this training, that the strongest Christian leaders are but a consecrated quotation of the giants of faith that have proceeded him - C.T. Studd, Hudson Taylor, George Muller, Rees Howells, AW Tozer, William Booth, Amy Carmichal, Richard Wurmbrand, Leonard Ravenhill, Paris Reidhead, Corrie Ten Boom, George Whitefield, John Wesley, David Brainerd, Charles Spurgeon, EM Bounds, John Hyde, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, Keith Green, Jackie Pullinger, DL Moody, Major Ian Thomas, Gladys Aylward, David Wilkerson, and Oswald Chambers.  I dearly desire my life to be a quotation of such an audacious band of mighties.

See more at www.ericludy.com/Home.html

The Necessity Of Repentance And Continuing In Faith

The Apostle Paul was planning a third visit to the Corinthians. In his second letter he warns them of his fear he would find much sin in their midst when he arrived. He was concerned that he may have to grieve over many of them who had not repented. (Repent - “To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction”. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913 + 1828 )

2 Corinthians 12: ISV Paul tells us:

20I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you,(quarreling, jealous, etc.wm) and that you may find me not as you want to find me.(having to rebuke, etc.wm) Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. 21I am afraid that when I come my God may again humble me before you 
(place Paul in an uncomfortable position.wm) and

·         that I may have to grieve over many who formerly lived in sin and have not repented of their impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity that they once practiced. (likely repented at one time, but have gone back to sinning.wm)

Paul continues on in chapter 13:

1This will be the third time I am coming to you. “Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses.” 

·         2I have already warned those who sinned previously and all the rest.

·         Although I am absent now, I am warning them as I did on my second visit:

·         If I come back, I will not spare you, 3since you want proof that the Messiah is speaking through me.

·         He is not weak in dealing with you but is making his power felt among you.

·         4Though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by God’s power. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you.

5Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don’t you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test?

Do we believe that Paul was serious in verse 5? Did the Holy Spirit not write it? Who can read this and not be sobered by it? Only a foolish person would explain it away. We should do what we are told to do by God. 

Romans 8: ISV Paul defines who God’s Spirit lives in:

9You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him. 10But if the Messiah is in you, your bodies are dead due to sin, but the spirit is alive due to righteousness.

Ephesians 5: ISV Paul tells us:

3Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. 4Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving.5For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.

Can Believers Be Deceived By Satan Just As Eve Was?

For over 50 years I have looked at and listened to what the different denominations teach. I believe they all have serious error. Some are purely false. They all think they are right. In over 50 years I have never seen a preacher preach on the warnings in the New Testament without explaining them away if they disagree with their belief system. To me that is sobering. I seek the Lord to come out of them.

2 Corinthians 11:  ISV Paul tells believers,

1I wish you would tolerate a little of my foolishness. Yes, please tolerate me!  I am jealous of you with God’s own jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to the Messiah.

 3However, I am afraid that

·         just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks,

·         so your minds may somehow be lured away

·         from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.

4For

·         if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached,

·         or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received

·         or a different gospel from the one you accepted,

·         you are all too willing to listen.

Brothers and sisters, I do not have an ax to grind. I present what is written and challenge our thinking. All denominations came from the Harlot Church. We all have beliefs that are incorrect. Some may place us in extreme danger.

·         Starting at the beginning in verse 1, we see Paul promised the believers, as pure virgins, to Jesus the Messiah.

·         In verse 3 Paul is concerned they could be 
      (A)deceived JUST AS EVE WAS and 
      (B)have their minds lured away from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Before we start explaining them away, please see that verse 4 is talking to: 

1. those who listen to preachers who teach another Jesus than the Apostles 
2. those who receive a different spirit than the one they received 
3. those who receive a different gospel than they accepted. 

These are horrible charges Paul brings against them and he compares it to Eve's sin which brought spiritual death. 

Please note that Paul promised the believers in marriage to one husband, as pure virgins to Jesus. When a Jewish man and woman were promised to each other, it was a binding contract. When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant he assumed mischief and graciously decided to put her away; to divorce her.
 Jesus gives a parable about 10 virgins, a picture of his return for his bride. Five had oil and 5 did not. The ones with oil went to the marriage supper and the ones without oil were told by Jesus "I do not know you". The oil could be a picture of the Holy Spirit, but in the parable the 5 virgins who did not have oil, were able to go buy it, but when they returned with the oil in the lamps, it was too late. 

Does this mean that we know a child of God who is born again can fall away or lose their salvation? I cannot say that, but I want no part in sin, death, darkness and the countless warnings to those who continue in sin. Revelation 3:5, infers God will blot names out of the Book of Life.

I believe you and I can trust what is written by the Holy Spirit. I do not think we should change what is clearly said, even when it appears to contradict our belief system. This is all said in the light of one indisputable fact; Jesus is God, a man born of a virgin, the Son of God. He willingly took the wrath of his Father while hanging on a cross, to pay for the sin of the world. There is no other way to God than through Jesus the Messiah.

Do we who are evil warn our children of the dangers in this life? How much more precious are the warnings of the all knowing God who went to the cross and took the wrath of his Father to pay for our sin.  Should the wise seek out his warnings? Absolutely! 

Keep My Commandments So That You May Live And Possess The Land.

The video at the bottom inspired me to write the following testimony. When you watch it you will understand why.

As I grew up, I did not keep God's commandments. I broke many of them and would reap accordingly. I know that no one keeps God's commandments, but some do better than others and reap less evil. I could have been much worse, but in this case I am simply talking about myself. This is a story of reaping and sowing, both bad and good. A story of a sinner who would over time be shown the Lover of his soul, the Lord Jesus Christ. As a rebellious sheep whose legs have been broken I want to stay by my master's side. His ways are perfect. Mine bring death and pain.

This is a story of reaping and sowing. My parents became Christians when I was 3.
1961, starts my testimony when I trusted in Christ as a 6 year old. The next day I told my whole first grade class my sins were forgiven by Jesus. But I had an enemy.

In 1991, thirty (30) years later, I returned to Christ after a few years as a prodigal son. Prior to 1991, I had fallen captive to the wicked one and brought much pain on my family. I too had much pain. My first wife had justifiably divorced me. We had 4 children. She and I had remarried. In 1991, I once again I found myself in great pain and one night I returned to my Father and committed to follow him. I immediately began a journey of protecting my eyes and ears and seeking to obey him.

In 2001, Ten (10) years later and (40) years after trusting in Christ, I went through a year of anguish in my marriage and the enemy tormented me constantly. I knew I was dying physically and if the Father did not protect me I would die prematurely. I was able to sleep only one hour a night. I cried to the Lord each night for hours. I was finally delivered and found myself surrendering in marvelous new way to Christ.

In 2011, Ten (10) years later and (50) years after trusting in Christ, my second wife divorced me in the face of my pleading with her not to break up our marriage and home. This devastated me and separated me from my 2 younger children who lived with her the vast majority of the time. I still regularly praise God for giving me 7 more years with my children. Seven more peaceful years than I thought I would have in 2001.

I have had hundreds of appointments from the Lord since 1991. Marvelous ones! After my surrender to the Lord in 2001, I began seeking in a passionate way to live a holy life of obedience and this has grown each year. In the middle of the divorce in early 2010, the Holy Spirit moved mightily in my life, giving me the gift of tongues and giving me power to be a bolder witness for him. He showed me many wonderful things. I still am going through trials, but I know my Father is preparing me for the future. In my spirit man I rejoice in the trials and cry for my Father to have his will in my life no matter what the cost. I so desire to be a blessing to the Lord who I rebelled against so many times. I do not know what would have happened if I had died in a prodigal state of continuing in sin. Speaking of such a condition the Apostle Paul said "God forbid".

When the Prodigal son came home to the Lord in 1991, I began to sow good seed almost immediately. My children have lived and worked with me. I truly believe they all love me and respect me. The Lord took my sin and reaping and turned them for my good. He gave me wisdom to warn my children, young people and adults. He gave me a passion for his warnings and sharing them. All six of my children profess faith in Jesus Christ. I have no memory of any of my children creating a bad experience. I have witnessed to hundreds and hundreds of people. Brothers and sisters, seek the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. Acknowledge Him. He will then direct your very footsteps! Preach the Gospel!!!!

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 ISV, Paul tells us:

• Therefore, we are the Messiah's representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on the Messiah's behalf  "Be reconciled to God!"

Jacob Prasch discusses these patterns and seasons in our lives along with many other things in the following video. He shows how God tests us and punishes us for our good. You will be blessed as you watch this!

Blessed be the name of The Lord, Jesus the Messiah!

The Bird Cage

This is an amazing, insightful video! Jacob Prasch explains what I spent so much time in....the bird cage. People want to hear cliches, not the truth. Are we simply spouting what we have heard and been taught? Jacob Prasch will show you how that much of what we hear is coming from someone in the bird cage, even ourselves. May God deliver us! For several years I have been seeking just that.

The Grace Of God Can Be Accepted In Vain

2 Corinthians 5:  ISV

The Apostle Paul tells us how true believers should live. He pleads on Messiah’s behalf for us to be reconciled to God! He warns us not to accept God’s grace in vain!

14The love of the Messiah controls us, for we are convinced of this:

·         that one person died for all people; therefore, all people have died.

·         15He died for all people, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose for them.

16So then, from now on we do not think of anyone from a human point of view. Even if we did think of the Messiah from a human point of view, we don’t think of him that way anymore. 17Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look!—all things have become new!

18All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19for through the Messiah, God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us. 

20Therefore, we are the Messiah’s representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on the Messiah’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God!” 21God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God’s righteousness would be produced in us.

2 Corinthians 6:  ISV

1Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept God’s grace in vain. 2For he says,

       “At the right time I heard you,

        and on a day of salvation I helped you.”

Listen, now is really the “right time”! Now is the “day of salvation”!

Do We Spread The Fragrance Of The Messiah?

2 Corinthians 2: ISV

The Apostle Paul tells us:

12When I went to Troas on behalf of the gospel of the Messiah, the Lord opened a door for me, 13but my spirit could not find any relief, because I couldn't find Titus, my brother. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

Isn’t it encouraging that Paul the Apostle struggled as we do to find peace at times! But in those times we should do as he did and continue on in faith, following Christ!

14But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly by the Messiah and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him. 

15To God we are the aroma of the Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. 16To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a living fragrance. 

We should be spreading the aroma of the Messiah if we are the ones "who are being saved". Some people will despise our fragrance as deadly. Others will see our fragrance as a living fragrance. 

Who is qualified for this? 

·         17At least we are not commercializing God’s word like so many others.

·         Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah’s name, like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God.

As countless numbers of false preachers and teachers today, Paul had to deal with those who were commercializing the gospel for money. Turn on the TV and listen to the false preachers of today. What gospel? It’s about money, money, money and how you can have your “Best Life Now”. The same lie Satan deceived the first Adam who fell. Praise God the second Adam, Jesus the Messiah, when tested by Satan said no to this and went to the cross instead. Jesus now tells us to  “say no to the things we want and pick up our cross and follow him, continually”.

Please note in verse 17, that these who commercialize God's word are clearly shown to be the opposite of the people who are sent from God and are accountable to God. They are teachers who do not speak with sincerity in the Messiah’s name.