Bible Lessons

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

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This is the audio from the May 14, 2023 sermon, “Finding Help When You Feel Alone: A Time To CRY!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Genesis 21:15-21, Matthew 15:21-28

“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)

Today I continued a sermon series about finding help in our times of need.  Last week we began by considering what it looks like to be lifted up by God when we’re afraid.  Today we focused on finding help when we feel alone.  Loneliness, rejection, and feeling left out are all experiences of life we have even though we would rather not.  The Bible is full of people who experienced feelings of being all alone just as we do.  Today we turn our focus toward two stories of mothers who found help from God when being alone brought them to despair in a time to cry out to God.  The good news for those who feel all alone is that when we turn to God we discover a time to . . .

  • Consider your circumstances:  —

    • Before help was even considered, the cry of both Hagar and the Canaanite woman from our texts began with a consideration of the circumstances they found themselves in.  This is often the easy part of our time to cry because our feelings of being alone leave us ample time to ask all the questions of why.  Sometimes, however, we need to step back and consider our circumstances from a perspective other than our own.  Most people seem to have tendencies to either over estimate or under estimate their own responsibility for where they are at.  When we seek God’s help during the times we feel alone, it is important to consider our circumstances from His perspective.

  • Reach out for help: —

    • It is through an examination of our circumstances from God’s perspective that we begin to realize we need help.  For a lot of different reasons, reaching out for help is difficult for many people.  Perhaps we’ve tried to find help before and it just never came.  Sometimes pride creeps in and keeps us from admitting we need help so we refuse to reach out.  Many times when we feel all alone, there are also feelings of abandonment and the feeling that no one cares so reaching out would be pointless.  When we seek God’s help during the times we feel alone, it is important to humble ourselves not only in order to reach out to Him, but to also reach out for help from those He has put around us.

  • Yield to God:  —

    • Finding help when we feel alone not only requires that we consider our circumstances and have the courage to reach out for help, but it also requires that we yield to the One who can help.  When I think about yielding to God, I think about how the two mothers from our texts today took the response of God by faith and found the help they needed.  Many times we find ourselves in need of help but we are very specific about what that help must look like.  We want help but we want it our own way.  God’s design in responding to our cry for help often looks very different from the way we would think it ought to be and will invariably require an action of faith on our part.  When we seek God’s help during the times we feel alone, it is important to yield to Him so that we fully receive what He offers.

Today, when you feel alone, how will you CRY?

Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Eyes! (5/12/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Eyes! (5/12/23)

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This is the audio from the May 12, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.”
Psalm 123:1 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift up your eyes toward the one who sits enthroned above all the earth.  Pray that the lifting of your eyes would help you to see things from a perspective that is not of this earth.  Pray that the people around you would lift their eyes toward heaven as they seek the One who can save them.

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: Lift Up Your Voice! (5/11/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Voice! (5/11/23)

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This is the audio from the May 11, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.”
Psalm 142:1 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your voice to God as you seek His mercy.  Pray that the lifting of your voice would not only seek mercy for yourself, but that your voice would be lifted on behalf of others.  Pray that the people around you would lift their voices to God as they seek His mercy.

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: Lift Up Your Hands! (5/10/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Hands! (5/10/23)

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This is the audio from the May 10, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 141:2 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your hands to God in prayer — both as a sign of surrender and as an invitation for Him to fill them.  Pray that the lifting of your hands would be consistent with your need to hold on to Jesus as the source of courage in the midst of fear

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: Lift Up Your Heart! (5/9/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Heart! (5/9/23)

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This is the audio from the May 9, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.  Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven.”
Lamentations 3:40-41 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your heart to God as you open it for His examination.  Pray that your heart would be lifted toward God in a way that draws you back to Him when you find fear creating a distance between you and God.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Lifted UP! (Sermon Audio)
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Lifted UP! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 7, 2023 sermon, “Finding Help When You’re Afraid: Lifted UP!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Jonah 2, Matthew 14:22-33

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

Today I began a sermon series about finding help in our times of need.  Life in general, but I think particularly life as a Christian, doesn’t always go like we think it should.  The series begins as we examine two Bible stories where people were filled with fear and cried out to God for help.  Life has a way of creating waves of doubt and oceans of fear for us in ways that threaten our safety and sense of security.  As we gaze into God’s Word, we find that when we cry out to Him in the midst of our fears that not only are we lifted up, but He gives us a lifted . . .

  • Understanding:  — Jonah 2:3-6, Matthew 14:25-29

    • Fear is driven by many different winds of life.  Sometimes, as in the case of Jonah, we are afraid because of the consequences of our own disobedience or the disobedience of others.  Other times, as in the case of Peter, we are obeying the instructions of Jesus when the things of this world creates enough doubt that we become fearful.  Either way, God’s desire is to lift our understanding so that we would acknowledge Him as the source from whom we find help..

  • Purpose:  — Jonah 1:16, Jonah 2:9, Matthew 14:32-33

    • Living with a lifted purpose comes when God helps us to live with courage even when we’re afraid.  Elements of fear and anxiety seem to be a natural part of living in this flesh and there are times when we need the help of various aspects of the medical community to overcome what is going on in our body.  But even when that is the case, I believe that God’s desire is to use our struggles for a greater purpose in His kingdom.  When we cry out to God in our times of need, He lifts us up with the purpose that we would worship Him whether He removes our fears or simply carries us through our fears..

When we cry out to God in our times of fear, He lifts us up and brings us to a place of worship..

Today, how will you live as one who has been lifted UP?

Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Head! (5/8/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Head! (5/8/23)

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This is the audio from the May 8, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that your choice to “lift up” would encourage others as they go through times of feeling afraid.  Pray that God would fill you with the humility that keeps others pointed to Jesus when you are lifted up.  Pray for the courage to lift your life to Jesus when others want to push you down.  Pray that you would be faithful in praising God even as you wait to be lifted up.  Pray that your hope would not fade as you find yourself in need.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:28 (NIV)

Pray that you would lift up your head, even in the midst of fear, to notice the works of God taking place around you.  Pray that your head would be lifted up to see the completion of your redemption which has been purchased by the blood of 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: Grow In Your Salvation! (5/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Your Salvation! (5/5/23)

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This is the audio from the May 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to grow!  When the Bible talks about our need to grow, it is most often talking about the individual Christian growing so that the body as a whole will be healthy and grow as God intends.  When we spend time with God seeking to grow in Christ, we find that we are less distracted by the things the enemy will use in an attempt to keep us from maturing.  When we grow in Christ, we become a healthy part of the body and as the body increases in health, it will grow both naturally and supernaturally.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would crave the things of God that will help you grow in your salvation.  Pray that the goodness of the Lord would increase your desire to grow in Him.  Pray that you would grow in your full acceptance of the salvation that only comes through Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom