Eric Ludy Sermon Podcast: Church at Ellerslie

Potato farming demands faith. The potato farmer needs to trust that the potato is actually growing though he can’t see it growing underneath all the dirt. Most of us steer clear of this sort of faith. We prefer things we can see, smell, hear, and touch. But, God is in the business of potato farming faith. And it is this sort of faith that Eric is charging the Church of Jesus Christ to return to full force. We’ve been twiddling our thumbs long enough in the land of mediocrity. It’s time to venture into the land of the impossible—believing that our God intends to do amazing, miraculous things on this earth. He’s simply waiting for His Church to start thinking and living like He is indeed the Almighty Sovereign King of Kings. // NOTE: This message is an amalgamation of quite a few Ludy sermons from the past on the theme of revival. Because of this, it's possible that some of the attributions were lost in translation. So, it's only appropriate to give special thanks to the classic books on revival that were potentially paraphrased and unwittingly partially quoted without attribution. Where would we be without all the examples of heroic faith that have gone before us?

The Christian life is impossible to live. But that doesn’t mean we aren't intended by God to live it. The secret is in gaining the supernatural help to pull it off. Baked into the design of the strong Christian life is something that Eric refers to as “leveling up.” It’s when God calls the Christian to a higher degree of difficulty in their walk and supplies them heavenly grace in order to pull off the greater challenge. Most of us kind of wish that there wasn’t a need for leveling up. But without it, there isn’t growth. 

Superman is unstoppable. There isn’t a bad guy out there that can possibly defeat him. Unless, of course, the bad guy happens to know Superman’s lone weakness—Kryptonite.The church of Jesus Christ was designed to be unstoppable, too. But, if that’s true, then why do we presently appear to be so pathetic, so frail, and so vulnerable? Could it be because, like Superman, we, the believers in Christ, also have a Kryptonite that weakens us?  

The number twenty-nine seems to be all over the Ellerslie ministry. But why? In this tribute sermon, Eric explores the powerful way this number has impacted his life and the lives of all those who have gone through the training at Ellerslie. This is a fun message that gives a unique behind-the-scenes take at some very formative moments of the ministry’s history. 

A gambōl is a playful skipping and frolicking about. It’s not something many of us still do after we crest the age of seven. But it is an art that as we enter the Kingdom of our dear Savior, we are intended by God to pick back up and master. In fact, the Spirit of God aims to train us in bringing out our most energetic gambōl when life turns bleak and the oppressions and cares of the world make their persuasive appeals. As Christians we are designed to gambōl as victors even when this world is crowing loudly that we are anything but. 

In Joshua chapter 17, the Mountain Country is not the desirable land. It’s rocky, forested. filled with Canaanite giants, and, these Canaanites giants have iron chariots, to boot! So, it isn’t any surprise when Ephraim and Manasseh receive their tract of land in the Mountain Country that it translated to them as a bit of a downer. We all have the same tendency to underrate the value of the Mountain Country in our own lives. Most of us simply want flat farm land without any obstacles, hindrances, or foes nearby. But, God loves us too much to give us something that dull and boring. Our God specializes in supplying us with the perfect land to match our soul’s need. He is in the business of growing us up to be mighty, and there is nothing quite like a tract of Mountain Country to do the job. 

------------

» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

The Christian life is won or lost in mind. The Devil knows this, too. So the Devil goes after the aperture of the Christian mind in order to direct its focus anywhere but on Christ and His Cross. If we as Christians know this, then we fight back and learn to counteract this demonic ploy with God’s weaponry. This particular sermon lays out one of the key tactics in God’s military strategy for keeping the Christian’s mental focus right where it belongs. 

------------

» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

Being a WW1 fighter pilot was gutsy. Kind of like being a radical Chrisitan today. When a pilot went up in one of those rickety biplanes, there was a high chance he wasn’t coming back. As Christians, when we sign up for serious Christian living, it’s kind of like climbing into a rickety WW1 biplane and taking off. It’s a dangerous and difficult mission that is promised to be accompanied by a thousand challenges. But God designed us for this very adventure—and He built us to bring down the enemy while we are at it.

------------

» Take these messages deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/ 

From the outside looking in, the long jump event in track and field doesn’t seem very complicated. You run and then, well, jump. What’s so difficult about that? But, experts that know a little more than the average human say that the long jump is actually one of the most technically complex events in all of sports. And that’s kind of like living out the Christian life. From the outside looking in it doesn’t sound that difficult to make happen. You just need to love, rejoice, be patient, holy, and pure. How hard can that be? So, it’s a bit of shock when the average Joe tries to live it out and simply can’t. But, thank God that He is the ultimate spiritual track and field coach, and it is His desire to train us to succeed in this impossible event known as “living a godly life.” This is a fun biographical message in which Eric shares twenty brief stories in his life that explain the many technically complex moments in his journey that have made up his personal long jumping adventure. 

Consistency in any field or arena of life is important. But, consistency in the realm of Christian living moves beyond the term “important” into the zone of “eternally significant.” An inconsistent Christian can be the undoing of another human soul, the justification of a wary skeptic to stay away from the Truth, and even the excuse for another believer to take lightly their own inconsistent behavior. As believers we are designed to walk true, walk faithful, and walk consistent. But, many believers today question whether or not such a life is even possible. And that is why a fresh reminder message like this one is critical.