Encouragement and Prayer: Be Reconciled Before Worship! (6/29/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: Be Reconciled Before Worship! (6/29/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 29, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NIV)

In a time when the things which divide us from one another often seems greater than that which unites us, this week’s prayer focus is about being reconciled to God with the task of facilitating reconciliation with others.  Webster’s dictionary says that reconcile means “to bring one thing into correspondence with another.”  I really like that definition as it highlights the importance of dialogue and honest communication with one another.  When we are reconciled to God, it is through the blood of Jesus that the line of communication has been opened between us and God.  It is only through Christ that we can be brought into balance and agreement with God and then with one another.  Pray about the reconciliation you need with God and with others.  Pray that your ears, and heart, would be open to truly listen to others.  Pray that you would seek out ways to enter into “correspondence with another” as you seek to be reconciled to those you don’t currently understand.  Pray that you would be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” in all of your interactions with others.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, . . . First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you walk in balance with Him.  Pray for clarity in seeing how a lack of reconciliation has hindered your worship of God.  Pray that you would  have the courage to be reconciled to others so that your worship would be pleasing and acceptable to God.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Summer With the Son: Being Reconciled! (Sermon Audio)

Summer With the Son: Being Reconciled! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the June 28, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Reconciled!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Matthew 5:21-26

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NIV)

Being Reconciled is possible when we understand how God brings us into balance with Himself and with one another as we understand . . .

  • Motives:  Matthew 5:21-22

    • Being reconciled with God and with one another requires us to understand our motives are as important as our actions.  God examines the heart and we must carefully examine our own heart as we really don’t have the capacity to accurately examine the heart of anyone else.  When we agree with God about the sin inside of us, we are prepared to agree with God about our need for reconciliation.
  • Offerings:  Matthew 5:23-24

    • Being reconciled with God and with one another requires us to understand our offerings are not an act detached from who we are, but rather are an act of worship which requires a heart purified from the hatred and division of this world.  While we can’t always make everything right, God says that as far as it depends upon us we should be at peace with everyone.  God has set the example by sending Jesus to make things right when the division between Him and us was caused by us.  We follow that example of reconciliation when we initiate making things right with those who may have wronged us.
  • Responsibility:  Matthew 5:25

    • Being reconciled with God and with one another requires us to understand our responsibility in seeking peace and reaching godly terms of agreement.  This is not a call to engage in the sinful behavior of the world in order to fit in, but rather a responsibility to “love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly with our God”.  When it comes to God holding the say on the day of judgment, it is our responsibility to accept His terms so that we are reconciled to Him and not cast into “prison” to fully pay our debt.
  • Eternity:  Matthew 5:26

    • Being reconciled with God and with one another requires us to understand how our eternity is determined by our choices.  Paying our way out of prison simply doesn’t work and I believe that is what Jesus was getting at here in verse 26.  We must be reconciled so that our eternal destination is one of joy and not of torment.

 

How will you understand MORE today as you are being reconciled?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Home Of Righteousness! (6/27/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Home Of Righteousness! (6/27/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 27, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be righteous — the righteousness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Yes, it is true that the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  But that is a statement made about our own ability to be, and become, righteous.  We are not righteous of our own will and effort, but we can be declared by God to be righteous because of our faith in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pray that your obedient response to God’s Word would be what you rely on fully for righteousness to be credited to you by God.  Pray that you would seek to live the righteous life God has called you to.  Pray for a humility which makes a life of righteous attractive even to the unrighteous.  Pray that your life would be a testimony to others of the power of God to make a person righteous.

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help recognize, and admit, that you will never become righteous through your own efforts or deeds.  Pray that your eyes would remain fixed on a home of righteousness.  Pray that your desire for that home would lead you to pursue God’s righteousness each day.  Pray that others would accept the promises of God which lead them to a righteous home.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Live For Righteousness! (6/26/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: Live For Righteousness! (6/26/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 26, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be righteous — the righteousness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Yes, it is true that the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  But that is a statement made about our own ability to be, and become, righteous.  We are not righteous of our own will and effort, but we can be declared by God to be righteous because of our faith in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pray that your obedient response to God’s Word would be what you rely on fully for righteousness to be credited to you by God.  Pray that you would seek to live the righteous life God has called you to.  Pray for a humility which makes a life of righteous attractive even to the unrighteous.  Pray that your life would be a testimony to others of the power of God to make a person righteous.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help recognize, and admit, that you will never become righteous through your own efforts or deeds.  Pray that you would understand the price paid to declare you righteous.  Pray that you would live for righteousness by dying to sin daily.  Pray that you would share a message of healing through choosing a righteous life.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Harvest of Righteousness! (6/25/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: Harvest of Righteousness! (6/25/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 25, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be righteous — the righteousness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Yes, it is true that the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  But that is a statement made about our own ability to be, and become, righteous.  We are not righteous of our own will and effort, but we can be declared by God to be righteous because of our faith in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pray that your obedient response to God’s Word would be what you rely on fully for righteousness to be credited to you by God.  Pray that you would seek to live the righteous life God has called you to.  Pray for a humility which makes a life of righteous attractive even to the unrighteous.  Pray that your life would be a testimony to others of the power of God to make a person righteous.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help recognize, and admit, that you will never become righteous through your own efforts or deeds.  Pray that you would accept God’s discipline as a means of producing righteousness.  Pray that you would share with others the peace that you have because of God’s discipline.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Trained In Righteousness! (6/24/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: Trained In Righteousness! (6/24/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 24, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be righteous — the righteousness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Yes, it is true that the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  But that is a statement made about our own ability to be, and become, righteous.  We are not righteous of our own will and effort, but we can be declared by God to be righteous because of our faith in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pray that your obedient response to God’s Word would be what you rely on fully for righteousness to be credited to you by God.  Pray that you would seek to live the righteous life God has called you to.  Pray for a humility which makes a life of righteous attractive even to the unrighteous.  Pray that your life would be a testimony to others of the power of God to make a person righteous.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help recognize, and admit, that you will never become righteous through your own efforts or deeds.  Pray that you would be a good student of God’s Word so that it would be used accurately in your life.  Pray that the training in righteousness you receive from God’s Word would equip you for every good work.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Pursue Righteousness! (6/23/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: Pursue Righteousness! (6/23/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 23, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be righteous — the righteousness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Yes, it is true that the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  But that is a statement made about our own ability to be, and become, righteous.  We are not righteous of our own will and effort, but we can be declared by God to be righteous because of our faith in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pray that your obedient response to God’s Word would be what you rely on fully for righteousness to be credited to you by God.  Pray that you would seek to live the righteous life God has called you to.  Pray for a humility which makes a life of righteous attractive even to the unrighteous.  Pray that your life would be a testimony to others of the power of God to make a person righteous.

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help recognize, and admit, that you will never become righteous through your own efforts or deeds.  Pray that you would be active in pursuing a life of righteousness along with others who seek God.  Pray that your pursuit of righteousness would include a deliberate fleeing from evil desires.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Protected By Righteousness! (6/22/26)

Encouragement and Prayer: Protected By Righteousness! (6/22/26)

 

This is the audio from the June 22, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be righteous — the righteousness of God that ought to be reflected in our life.  Yes, it is true that the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  But that is a statement made about our own ability to be, and become, righteous.  We are not righteous of our own will and effort, but we can be declared by God to be righteous because of our faith in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pray that your obedient response to God’s Word would be what you rely on fully for righteousness to be credited to you by God.  Pray that you would seek to live the righteous life God has called you to.  Pray for a humility which makes a life of righteous attractive even to the unrighteous.  Pray that your life would be a testimony to others of the power of God to make a person righteous.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help recognize, and admit, that you will never become righteous through your own efforts or deeds.  Pray that your heart would be protected by righteousness as you put on the full armor of God.  Pray that the righteousness you have in Christ would serve as your protection against the attacks of the evil one.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom