Discipleship

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Righteousness
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Almost Heaven: A Home Of Righteousness

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day twenty-five from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Righteousness

“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)

When was the last time you did something wrong?  Are you sure?  Who defines right and wrong?  How would your life be different if you could live with, and be surrounded by, complete righteousness?  How upset do you get at the unrighteous acts of others?  How does that compare with the way you view your own unrighteousness?  Have you ever been a part of a group where, as much as humanly possible, all unrighteousness has been stripped away?  What was it like?

In a world where lying, cheating, stealing, disobedience, and every other sin seek to pollute every aspect of our lives, it is comforting to know we are headed to a home of complete righteousness.  This righteousness exists by the power of the blood of Jesus and the declaration of His Word.  This same power declares you and I to be righteous when we are found in Christ.  Our home today can show a glimpse of our future home when we live with a righteousness that is found in Christ.  As you pray, ask God to help you daily put on His righteousness.  Pray that you would reject sin and evil as you journey to a home that is filled with absolute righteousness.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (12/30/20)

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This is the audio from the December 30, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Reward
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Almost Heaven: A Home Of Reward

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day twenty-four from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Reward

“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.“
Acts 3:19-21 (NIV)

Does it ever feel like your work and efforts in life go unappreciated?  Are there times when your attempts to live in obedience to God are met with skepticism and ridicule?  How easy is it to live a life devoted to Christ in your home?  At your school?  At your place of work?  Are you joyful when people notice your walk with Christ, and hate you for it?  Does the promise of a future reward help you endure difficult circumstances?  How does a home of reward give you hope to persevere today?

Waiting under the best of circumstances is difficult for most people but when you add conflict and hardship, it is easy to lose sight of what we’re waiting for and give up.  It is by keeping our eye on the reward at the end that we are able to endure much.  I know people who have stood outside all night in freezing temperatures just to receive the reward of a Black Friday sale.  How much greater should our endurance be when we consider the reward waiting for us in heaven.  As you pray, ask God to help you endure hardship as you look forward to your eternal reward.  Pray that you would learn to rejoice in the midst of the testing that prepares you for home.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (12/29/20)

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This is the audio from the December 29, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Restoration
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Almost Heaven: A Home Of Restoration

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day twenty-three from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Restoration

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.“
Acts 3:19-21 (NIV)

Is there a difference between repairing something and restoring it?  What might that be?  Have you ever had something of value that was worn out or broken that you had restored?  How did the finished restoration make you feel?  Are there things in your life that need restored?  What would it take for that to happen?  How much confidence would you have in something being fully restored if you knew the item’s designer and creator were doing the restoration?

I am pretty good at breaking things and am improving at repairing them, but generally lack the ability to actually restore them.  Many times when we mess up our life, we settle for a quick fix or simple repair when God wants to give us a full restoration.  While God has made the way for us to be restored through the work of His Son, that work in us will not be fully complete until we are home with Him.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with the desire to repent in order to bring about restoration.  Pray that you would trust Him, as your designer and creator, to know how to fully restore you.  Pray that God’s restoration work in you would be brought to completion. 

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (12/28/20)

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This is the audio from the December 28, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Almost Heaven: A Home Of Rescue
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Almost Heaven: A Home Of Rescue

Each one of us is on a journey to our final, and eternal, destination.  As Christians, we live with the confident assurance that our eternal home is with God.  But, we’re not home yet and there is a life to be lived as we journey toward heaven.  It is my prayer that this series of devotions will help you discover not only a glimpse of heaven, but that it would prepare you to more fully live like you are home even as you continue the journey.

This is day twenty-two from the devotional journal, “Almost Heaven: Devotions For the Journey Home”.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God in the process of discovering how He would have us to live as we prepare for an eternal home.

Almost Heaven:
A Home Of Rescue

“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.“
1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 (NIV)

Have you ever been stranded and have to call someone to come rescue you?  How did you feel?  How much time did you spend trying to figure your own way out of it before calling for help?  How difficult was it to admit you needed help?  How did you feel about being rescued?  Was the relief of being rescued greater than the embarrassment of being stuck and in need of help?  Does the attitude of the one rescuing you influence how you feel about needing rescued?

After spending a weekend teaching at a church, I headed home late at night only to have my car break down an hour into my six hour drive home.  I popped the hood and fiddled around for a while before finally deciding it was hopeless and I needed rescued.  I made a phone call to the family I knew in the town where I had been staying and was greatly relieved when they said they were on their way and even more relieved when their car pulled up behind me some time later.  As you pray, ask God to help you comprehend your need to be rescued by Him.  Pray that you would know the home you’re headed to as one that has rescued you. 

In prayer,

Tom

The Gift of WISDOM (Sermon Audio)
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The Gift of WISDOM (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the December 27, 2020 sermon, “The Gift of WISDOM”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  James 3:13, Matthew 2:1-12

While James tells us that God is gracious in giving wisdom to all who ask, he also makes it clear that wisdom is made known by what we do.  In Jeremiah, God tells us to look for the ancient paths and find the good way to walk — presumably by learning from the wisdom of those who walked this earth before us.  The wisdom which comes from God is very different from the wisdom of the world and we would do well to find the wisdom that is not self-seeking and self-promoting.

When we seek the wisdom found in Jesus, we find the gift of . . . 

  • Wonder: Mark 9:15 — Wherever Jesus went on this earth, people were filled with wonder.  From the wonder expressed by the shepherds and Magi at His birth to the wonder of the teachers in the temple when Jesus was twelve to the wonder often expressed as He taught and performed miracles, wonder was a natural reaction to the Son of God dwelling among mankind.  It is this element of wonder that causes us to realize that God’s ways are not always explainable — nor should they be.  God’s gift of wisdom allows us to marvel at the mysteries contained within creation and within His Word.
  • Insight:  Acts 4:13 — There are elements of wisdom found throughout scripture that seem to elude the grasp of many of the most studious minds.  There is something unique about spending time with Jesus that gives a person insight that could never be gained in any other way.  Even when the religious leaders did not like the message being shared by the apostles, they could help but take note of the only possible explanation for the insight being shared was that these men had been with Jesus.  Imagine what it would be like to have wisdom that is filled with great insight because you are spending time with Jesus.
  • Service:  Mark 10:45 — Wisdom is often best seen in what we do, rather than in what we say.  The wisdom described by James is something that is seen in the good deeds which come from humility.  When we look to Jesus for the gift of wisdom He would offer, we find that He lives a life that is all about serving others.  It is by humbling ourselves and finding ways to serve others that we gain entrance into their life to the point that God’s wisdom can be seen in us.  It is within this gift of service that we find wisdom by doing unto others what we would have them do unto us.
  • Delight:  Matthew 12:18 — God’s desire has always been that mankind would be delighted with Him even as He delights in us.  Godly wisdom helps us to delight in the Lord as we learn the secret of Him being enough for a life of contentment.  Our level of delight in life is often directly related to our learning the secret of contentment — whether in plenty or in want.  We ought to be filled with great delight as we realize that God delights over us with singing.  In a similar fashion to a parent or grandparent giving gifts to children which are a delight to both the giver and receiver, God’s gift of wisdom to us should be a delight to Him and to us.
  • Obedience:  John 15:10 — It should come as no surprise that when Jesus wanted to define what a wise person looked like He told a story.  We tell it to our children as the story of the wise and foolish builders — we even have a children’s song to tell the story for us.  In it, the wise person is the one who hears the Word of God and does what it says.  For most of us, obedience was learned as a desire to avoid the consequences of disobedience.  As we grow in wisdom, our obedience ought to grow more and more out of a heart of love.  The Bible teaches that as God’s Son walking the earth in human flesh, Jesus learned obedience to His Father and ought to serve as our example in every way.
  • More:  John 16:12 — Just as they do in all of the TV commercials for the “As Seen On TV” products, we’ve reached the point where I say, “But wait!  There’s more!”  Accepting the gift of wisdom from God should lead us to a realization that there is more than we will ever know or understand.  As Jesus taught His disciples, He knew there was a limit to what they could grasp — and even a limit to what they should be able to grasp.  The Holy Spirit would be sent after the resurrection of Jesus to help with some of the “More”, but even with an indwelling of God’s Spirit there are elements of God and His nature that are purposefully kept a mystery to us.  The gift of wisdom acknowledges that the ways of God are higher, better, nobler, and more perfect than any of the ways of man.

So, as we consider the gift of wisdom which has been offered to us, the question to consider is what are you going to do with that gift?  Godly wisdom is not found in the accumulation of knowledge, but in the application of what God has revealed through His Word, His Spirit, and through our times of prayer. 

In prayer,
Tom