Encouragement and Prayer: The Awe of Response! (12/12/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: The Awe of Response! (12/12/22)

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This is the audio from the December 12, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”
Luke 2:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on knowing and sharing the awe of Christmas as experienced by the shepherds.  While I have not experienced a personal angelic announcement directing me toward Jesus, I have been drawn by God’s Spirit into relationship with Him.  It’s in the daily encounters with Jesus that we discover an awe that is our responsibility to share.  As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with an awe of His presence.  Pray that you would always be responsive to the way God directs you through His Spirit and His Word.  Pray that the awe you experience through your relationship with God would compel you to share the good news of Jesus with others.  Pray that the Christmas story of God dwelling among us would be treasured by you and reflected in the way you live.

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:15 (NIV)

Pray that your time in God’s Word would always lead you to an obedient response.  Pray that the message of Christ to you would create a continual desire to see His mighty work accomplished in your life.  Pray for a life which calls others to come and see.

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: Great Joy From Faithfulness! (12/9/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Great Joy From Faithfulness! (12/9/22)

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This is the audio from the December 9, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2:10 (NKJV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on living with great joy.  Many times it is the intensity of our longing or search for something that is reflected in the joy we are able to express.  Our seeking of God ought to fill us with great joy because He promises to be found when we seek Him with our whole heart.

“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.”
3 John 1:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, join with the Magi in rejoicing “with exceedingly great joy” because you have experienced the light of Jesus in your life.  Pray that the work you do in sharing the good news of Jesus would bring you great joy as it bears much fruit.  Pray that the people who taught you about Jesus would be filled with great joy because of your faithfulness to the truth.

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: Great Joy Through the Love of Others! (12/8/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Great Joy Through the Love of Others! (12/8/22)

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This is the audio from the December 8, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2:10 (NKJV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on living with great joy.  Many times it is the intensity of our longing or search for something that is reflected in the joy we are able to express.  Our seeking of God ought to fill us with great joy because He promises to be found when we seek Him with our whole heart.

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”
Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, join with the Magi in rejoicing “with exceedingly great joy” because you have experienced the light of Jesus in your life.  Pray that you would know the joy that comes from the encouragement of others.  Pray that the love you express to others would fill them with great joy.  Pray that  you would share joy as your life refreshes the people around you.

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: Great Joy That Spreads! (12/7/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Great Joy That Spreads! (12/7/22)

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This is the audio from the December 7, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2:10 (NKJV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on living with great joy.  Many times it is the intensity of our longing or search for something that is reflected in the joy we are able to express.  Our seeking of God ought to fill us with great joy because He promises to be found when we seek Him with our whole heart.

“So there was great joy in that city.”
Acts 8:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, join with the Magi in rejoicing “with exceedingly great joy” because you have experienced the light of Jesus in your life.  Pray that the work of God in your life would help there to be great joy all around you.  Pray that your community would experience great joy as the people embrace the transforming power of God to rescue them.  Pray that you would be involved in bringing the joy of Jesus to your city.

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: Great Joy From Worship! (12/6/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Great Joy From Worship! (12/6/22)

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This is the audio from the December 6, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2:10 (NKJV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on living with great joy.  Many times it is the intensity of our longing or search for something that is reflected in the joy we are able to express.  Our seeking of God ought to fill us with great joy because He promises to be found when we seek Him with our whole heart.

“Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
Luke 24:52 (NIV)

As you pray this week, join with the Magi in rejoicing “with exceedingly great joy” because you have experienced the light of Jesus in your life.  Pray that your times of worshiping God would fill you with great joy.  Pray that the joy you experience through your times of worship and pursuing God would fill you wherever you go.  Pray that the joy of worship would go with you each day that you live.

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: Great Joy for Everyone! (12/5/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Great Joy for Everyone! (12/5/22)

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This is the audio from the December 5, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2:10 (NKJV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on living with great joy.  Many times it is the intensity of our longing or search for something that is reflected in the joy we are able to express.  Our seeking of God ought to fill us with great joy because He promises to be found when we seek Him with our whole heart.  As you pray this week, join with the Magi in rejoicing “with exceedingly great joy” because you have experienced the light of Jesus in your life.  Pray for the courage to be filled with great joy in the midst of circumstances which are difficult to rejoice in.  Pray for a contagious joy that helps comfort those who see little to rejoice about.  Pray that you would be diligent in searching for the light of Jesus and in being the light of Jesus so that His joy would abound.  Pray for wisdom in sharing the great joy that God has put within you.  Pray that your expressions of joy would help others see Jesus more clearly.

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Pray that you would know the fullness of God’s joy.  Pray that you would take to heart the message of the angel that the good news of Jesus is meant to be for all people.  Pray that fear would not keep you from experiencing the great joy found in Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom

The Christmas Excitement: A Great JOY! (Sermon Audio)

The Christmas Excitement: A Great JOY! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the December 4, 2022 sermon, “The Christmas Excitement: A Great JOY!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Matthew 2:1-12, Philippians 2:12-18

Today continued our Christmas sermon series with a look at the Christmas excitement experienced by the wise men.  When I think about excitement and exceedingly great joy, I often think about accomplishing or experiencing something that is extremely difficult or even thought to be impossible or at least highly improbable.  There seems to be a correlation between the effort put forth and the joy produced.  In fact, it can be the times of greatest difficulties which lead us to a joy that is unlike any other.  For these Magi from the east, it was the earnestness of their search that led them to “rejoice with exceedingly great joy” when the star reappeared and let them to the house in Bethlehem where they found the child Jesus.  As we examine the story of the Magi, I want us to also consider our own story and reflect on the elements of our great . . .

  • Journey.  Matthew 2:1-8, Philippians 2:12-13
    • The wise men set out on a great journey with the goal of being able to worship a child who had been born king of the Jews.  They had observed a sign that led them on a great journey, not knowing exactly where they were headed.  Our journey to Christ is often similar in that we receive a calling from God’s Word and we continually grow in holiness and righteousness as we pursue God each day.  Given Herod’s reaction, it appears to have taken the wise men up to two years to find the Christ after first seeing the star in the east.  They kept searching and learning until their goal was accomplished.  When Paul tells us to work our our salvation, he is not talking about earning our salvation through our efforts bur rather to live in such a way that our path to salvation in Christ becomes evident to us and to those around us.  Life’s journey will be difficult and full of trouble but when it is a great journey toward God, it leads us to a great joy.
  • Observation.  Matthew 2:9-10, Philippians 2:14-16
    • Having a great observation is not only about being able to see, it is also about knowing the significance of what we observe.  The wise men noticed something that stood out to them and for some reason it carried a message to them that no one else seemed to get.  We really don’t know if this star was exclusively revealed to the wise men or if it was visible to anyone who happened to be paying attention to the sky.  I tend to believe that it was something God placed in the sky for all to see, yet the vast majority of people paid it no attention.  Whatever the case might be, these men observed something that both got their attention and led them to action.  Paul writes to us and challenges each child of God to live as those who “shine like stars”.  Our joy ought to be amplified when we observe the working of God in someone’s life, just as the joy of the Lord ought to grow in others as they see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  When we seek to live with great joy in the midst of a troubled world, we live in such a way that a great observation leads us and others closer to Christ.
  • Yielding.  Matthew 2:11-12, Philippians 2:17-18
    • The wise men appear to come from positions of influence and power as they are able to spend much time traveling, they gain an audience with Herod, and they have precious and valuable gifts to give to Jesus.  Yet the very heart of their trip was to worship and yield to the authority of this child that was born king of the Jews.  Their plans, even in their changed departure, was a continual yielding to the will of God.  It is this very element that helps us in having joy that the world knows nothing of when we find ourselves dealing with the struggles of life.  Even when it feels like our life is being poured out through the trouble of this world, we gain strength as we yield to God and desire His will to be done in us and through us.  When we daily yield to Jesus, we find that even the sorrows and grief of this life can result in the growth of our faith and testimony as we seek to make Jesus known.

Today, how will you have a Christmas JOY that others can see?

Encouragement and Prayer: Building With Encouragement! (12/2/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Building With Encouragement! (12/2/22)

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This is the audio from the December 2, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” 
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about the responsibility each Christian has in doing their part to build up the family of God.  While each of us have different gifting and abilities, we each have an obligation to use them to help the entire family grow.  God doesn’t expect your part from me or my part from you, but he does expect that we will each do our part to build up one another.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate the condition of the spiritual family that you are part of so that you can more accurately see the work that needs done.  Pray that your interactions with people would be an encouragement that builds them up. Pray that God would surround you with people who encourage you in your walk with Him. Pray that the gathering of God’s family would be an encouragement to all.

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

In prayer,
Tom