Discipleship

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

Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Faith! (5/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Faith! (5/4/23)

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This is the audio from the May 4, 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.

“We ought always to thank God for you, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would grow in the faith required to love others.  Pray that you would live by faith in a way that increases your love for others.  Pray with thankfulness for what God is doing in the lives of others.

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 Knowledge! (5/3/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Knowledge! (5/3/23)

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This is the audio from the May 3, 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.

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would grow in knowledge where it counts — knowledge of God.  Pray that your knowledge would help you live a life that pleases the Lord.

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 Love! (5/2/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Love! (5/2/23)

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This is the audio from the May 2, 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.

“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 4:16 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would grow in love as you do your part in caring for others.  Pray that you would live in a way that everything in your own life, and in the life of each person you serve, is held together by godly love.

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 By God’s Power! (5/1/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow By God’s Power! (5/1/23)

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This is the audio from the May 1, 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.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would never lose sight of the need for growth in your life.  Pray that you would experience healthy growth in Christ that will benefit the entire body of Christ.  Pray that your growth would be according to the instruction from your Head, Christ.

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
1 Corinthians 3:7 (NIV)

Pray that you would know and follow the source of true growth.  Pray that you would be actively involved in helping your own growth even as you trust God’s power to cause it.  Pray that you would plant and water in spiritual ways that cultivate God’s power.

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 GROW! (Sermon Audio)
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A Time to GROW! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 30, 2023 sermon, “A Time to Grow”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Acts 2:42-47

“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)

Today I concluded a series, or added a postscript to the previous series, as we looked at life after the resurrection.  After the disciples had gathered following the resurrection of Jesus, He commissioned them to make disciples everywhere they would go.  When the time came to put that instruction into action, the church was born and God brought about incredible growth.  When we experience a resurrection in our life through the power of Jesus, we also experience a time to . . .

  • Give:  —  Acts 2:44-45

    • One of the marks of growth within the early church was a willingness for individual Christians to give to one another according to the need.  This was not an act of socialism or communism, but rather an act of willing love that cared about the needs of others.  This kind of growth in our life and in the community of God’s kingdom takes place when we begin to realize the enormity of what God has given us because of His love.

  • Respect:  — Acts 2:42

    • The early church grew because of a respect for God’s Word and for one another.  Those who put their faith in Jesus did so with a devotion that changed everything about their life.  When we choose to live with a respect for God, we find that He calls us to a respect for others that values them as one loved by God.

  • Observe:  —  Acts 2:43

    • When we choose to live a life that gives and respects, we find ourselves in a position to see God at work in amazing ways.  It’s not that God’s work is dependent on us, but rather that we are able to grow in Christ according to our willingness to recognize not only God’s work all around us, but also His work within us.

  • Witness: — Acts 2:46-47

    • As the seeds of growth are planted in our life through an obedience to God which leads us to give, respect, and observe, God produces within us a witness for the world to see.  As the church was being formed, the Christians made it a point to meet together every day both in public and in their homes.  When we live our Christian faith everywhere we go, we become a witness to others about the goodness and approachability of God.

When we choose to live a resurrected life, God causes us to GROW in such a way that Jesus is lifted up and He adds to our number daily those who are being saved.

Today, how will you GROW?