This Means WAR! (Sermon Audio)
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This Means WAR! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 28, 2023 sermon, “Finding Help For Your Battles: This Means WAR!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 2 Kings 6:12-23, Ephesians 6:10-18

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

Today I concluded a sermon series about finding help in our times of need.

Living life is a battle.  While the battles we face as individuals may come in different forms, we know from God’s Word that the sources of these battles are often spiritual in nature.  The good news for us in the midst of our battles is that God has given us what we need to be victorious when we choose His side of the battle.  When we find ourselves in the midst of battle and cry out for help, we find God telling us that this means . . .

  • Wisdom Is Wanted:  —

    • Victory in battle generally relies on reliable information.  One of the greatest pieces of wisdom God gives us when it comes to the battles we face is that they are not against flesh and blood but rather they are spiritual battles..

  • Armor Is Available: —

    • Knowing the nature of the battles we face will help us realize the importance of putting on the full armor of God.  This armor is available to us by God, but requires that we daily choose to put it on and use it.

  • Repentance Is Required:  —

    • We fail in our thoughts and attitudes more often than we like to admit, even if we manage to keep our actions in line with what God desires.  The spiritual battles we face will require that we become familiar and comfortable with repentance as we not only look at our battles differently, but we consider people from a new point of view..

Today, when you face battles of various kinds, how will you engage in the WAR?

Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Results In Action! (5/26/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Results In Action! (5/26/23)

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This is the audio from the May 26, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
 Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about seeking God’s help when we experience doubt.  Because believing God, and believing in God, is based on faith, it is not unusual to experience times of uncertainty that can grow into doubt.  Even when we say we believe, an honest examination of that belief will often reveal a need for help to grow in our practice of that belief.  It has been said that we can tell what a person really believes by closely observing what they do.  While our words may say what we want to believe, our actions tend to reflect our true beliefs.

“Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”
James 2:18-19 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to help you refine and solidify what you know and believe about Him.  Pray that your belief of what God says would be seen by others through the things you do.  Pray for a growing faith that puts your belief of God into action.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Obeys! (5/25/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Obeys! (5/25/23)

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This is the audio from the May 25, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
 Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about seeking God’s help when we experience doubt.  Because believing God, and believing in God, is based on faith, it is not unusual to experience times of uncertainty that can grow into doubt.  Even when we say we believe, an honest examination of that belief will often reveal a need for help to grow in our practice of that belief.  It has been said that we can tell what a person really believes by closely observing what they do.  While our words may say what we want to believe, our actions tend to reflect our true beliefs.

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 8:12 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to help you refine and solidify what you know and believe about Him.  Pray that your response to belief about the good news of God’s kingdom would always lead to obedience.  Pray for the courage to obey God’s Word simply because you believe Him.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Worships! (5/24/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Worships! (5/24/23)

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This is the audio from the May 24, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
 Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about seeking God’s help when we experience doubt.  Because believing God, and believing in God, is based on faith, it is not unusual to experience times of uncertainty that can grow into doubt.  Even when we say we believe, an honest examination of that belief will often reveal a need for help to grow in our practice of that belief.  It has been said that we can tell what a person really believes by closely observing what they do.  While our words may say what we want to believe, our actions tend to reflect our true beliefs.

“Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.”
John 9:38 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to help you refine and solidify what you know and believe about Him.  Pray that the things you know and believe about God would always lead you to an attitude of worship.  Pray that others would know about your belief in God by the way you live a life that worships Him.  Pray for the courage to worship God at all times no matter where you are.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Can Grow! (5/23/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Can Grow! (5/23/23)

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This is the audio from the May 23, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
 Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about seeking God’s help when we experience doubt.  Because believing God, and believing in God, is based on faith, it is not unusual to experience times of uncertainty that can grow into doubt.  Even when we say we believe, an honest examination of that belief will often reveal a need for help to grow in our practice of that belief.  It has been said that we can tell what a person really believes by closely observing what they do.  While our words may say what we want to believe, our actions tend to reflect our true beliefs.

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Mark 9:24 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to help you refine and solidify what you know and believe about Him.  Pray that you would be aware of both your strengths and weaknesses in the area of believing God.  Pray that your desire to believe would not keep you from admitting times of unbelief.  Pray that you would always call out to God for help in growing through any areas of unbelief.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

A Time To ASK! (Sermon Audio)
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A Time To ASK! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 21, 2023 sermon, “Finding Help When You Doubt: A Time To ASK!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Judges 6:13-40, Mark 9:19-29

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
 Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series about finding help in our times of need.  Today we focused on finding help when we doubt.  Doubt is such a natural part of the human experience that we often fail to realize just how much of it has crept into our life.  Even when we want to believe God, the seeds of doubt try to take root and grow.  The good news is that our doubt doesn’t take God by surprise.  When we find ourselves in the midst of doubt, we should turn to God and discover a time to . . .

  • Admit Weakness:  —

    • Neither the father whose son had an evil spirit nor Gideon had the power to do what they wanted.  Their doubt required them to admit they were week and needed God’s help.  Even when we have a growing level of belief, in order to find the help we need we must admit to God, and to our self, that we have doubt.  When God called Gideon to be His instrument of saving the Israelites from their enemies, Gideon had some serious doubt about whether he was the right person for the job.  He was willing to admit his weakness and acknowledge a need for help.  When we look for help in our times of doubt, we must begin by admitting we need God’s help to believe as we ought.

  • Seek help: —

    • While the first step of receiving help may well be in admitting we need it, the importance of seeking that help must not be overlooked.  The boy’s father in the Mark text knew there were doubts in the belief he had so he asked Jesus to help his unbelief in addition to helping his son.  The task Gideon was being asked by God to be involved in was so large that Gideon not only sought God’s help, but he repeatedly sought confirmation that God was indeed with Him.  When we look for help in our times of doubt, we would do well to seek out the One who can help.

  • Know Results:  —

    • Both of the main characters in our texts for today received the help they needed when they were willing to admit they needed help and sought God to provide that help.  We too can know the results of finding help when we doubt when we go to God and ask for His help.  The father had his son restored to him and the nation of Israel was delivered from their enemy as a result of finding help in the midst of doubt.  When we look to God for help in our times of doubt, we can be sure that our continued trust in Him will produce the results that are best from His perspective.

Today, when you doubt, how will you ASK?

Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Leads To Repentance! (5/22/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Belief That Leads To Repentance! (5/22/23)

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This is the audio from the May 22, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
 Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about seeking God’s help when we experience doubt.  Because believing God, and believing in God, is based on faith, it is not unusual to experience times of uncertainty that can grow into doubt.  Even when we say we believe, an honest examination of that belief will often reveal a need for help to grow in our practice of that belief.  It has been said that we can tell what a person really believes by closely observing what they do.  While our words may say what we want to believe, our actions tend to reflect our true beliefs.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you refine and solidify what you know and believe about Him.  Pray that you would grow with God’s help in your times of disbelief.  Pray that your response to God and His Word would show those around you that you really believe what God says.  Pray that your life would reflect what you say you believe about God.  Pray for wisdom in the way you share your belief in God with others so that they too would believe.  Pray that you would not only have a belief in God, but that you would gaze into His Word and actually believe what He says.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:15 (NIV)

Pray that you would believe God when it comes to knowing what is right and wrong.  Pray that today would be the time to know the nearness of God.  Pray for hearts that would respond in repentance to a belief in the good news about Jesus.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Hope Through Time With Jesus! (5/19/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Hope Through Time With Jesus! (5/19/23)

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This is the audio from the May 19, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about overcoming despair or feelings of being “downcast”.  I found it interesting that a word search of the NIV found few uses of the word despair, but plenty of examples of people who, in their despair, cried out to God.  Often they are described as being “downcast”, which I believe is an accurate term in describing despair.  Whatever the cause of our despair, God wants us to overcome it through His presence and the power of His Spirit within us.  This week we will consider some Bible characters who were feeling downcast and learn from their situations some keys in overcoming despair.

“He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’  They stood still, their faces downcast.  They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”
Luke 24:17, 32 (NIV)

As you pray, consider God’s desire for you to overcome feelings of being downcast.  Pray that your despair would lead  you to a closer walk with Jesus.  Pray that God’s Word would burn within you as you examine it during times of despair.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom