God

Encouragement and Prayer: Love that Leads to Obedience! (2/23/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Love that Leads to Obedience! (2/23/23)

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This is the audio from the February 23, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
John 14:15 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would be filled with a love that seeks to do the things that you know please God.  Pray that you would live with an obedient spirit that desires to obey the commands of God as an expression of your love.  Pray that your love for God would be seen by others as you live according to His Word.

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: Love Your Enemies! (2/22/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Love Your Enemies! (2/22/23)

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This is the audio from the February 22, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that the love of God within you would extend to those you disagree with — even with those who would be considered enemies.  Pray that the love God expressed toward you while you were an enemy would be expressed by you to those who may treat  you poorly.

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: Love Your Neighbor! (2/21/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Love Your Neighbor! (2/21/23)

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This is the audio from the February 21, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:31 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would focus more on loving your neighbor as God would want than on trying to define who that neighbor is — or isn’t.  Pray that  you would be the neighbor that shows love to all those in need.  Pray for the courage to love others in a way that values 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: Love God! (2/20/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Love God! (2/20/23)

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This is the audio from the February 20, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would be so filled with God’s love that loving like Jesus would become more natural each day.  Please continue to pray for one another in the midst of these confusing and changing times.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

Pray that your love of God would always be the top priority of all the love you have.  Pray that God’s love for you would be the standard for the love you have for Him.  Pray that your love for God would grow each day.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A NEW Command! (Sermon Audio)
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A NEW Command! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 19, 2023 sermon, “A NEW Command!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Today continued a sermon series with a focus on being Made New In Christ.  When Jesus addresses His disciples, including you and I, he issues a new command — a command to love one another.  Since God’s desire has always been that mankind would love Him and love one another, we must gaze into God’s Word to see what makes this command . . .

  • Necessary.  John 13:34a, 1 John 2:3-4
    • While the very nature of commanding something ought to convey the necessity of obedience, sometimes we fail to grasp the importance of actually doing what God says.  God says the real proof of us actually knowing Him is found in our obedience to His commands.  When we live as those who are being made new in Christ, we find that the knowing and doing of God’s Word is not simply a good idea, it is necessary.
  • Expensive.  John 13:34b, 1 John 3:16-17
    • Perhaps one of the reasons we struggle with accepting the necessity of God’s commands is doing so would cost us more than we are willing to invest.  The very nature of this new command involves not simply loving others, but loving them in the same way that Jesus loves.  When we live as those who are being made new in Christ, we find that loving like Jesus will cost us everything — but only everything that would eventually perish.
  • Witnessing.  John 13:35, 1 John 4:12
    • When we live as those who view the command to love one another as both necessary and expensive, the result is a life that shows we belong to Jesus.  It is the witness of our life that makes the presence of God visible in this world and gives us a real answer when people notice the hope we live with.  When we live as those who are being made new in Christ, we shine like stars in the universe and witness to the world that we are disciples of Christ.

Today, how will you respond to a command that is NEW?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Patience! (2/17/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Patience! (2/17/23)

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This is the audio from the February 17, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“And we urge you; warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray for God’s help in overcoming the human frustrations that accompany dealing with people . . .including yourself.  Pray that you would learn to be patient with everyone, especially those who are struggling in their life.

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: A Self of Gentleness! (2/16/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Gentleness! (2/16/23)

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This is the audio from the February 16, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Philippians 4:5 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that being chosen by God would lead you to a life of gentleness.  Pray that you would grow in gentleness as you grow in your relationship with God.  Pray that the people around you would see God at work in your life as you live with a gentleness that is obvious 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

Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Humility! (2/15/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Humility! (2/15/23)

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This is the audio from the February 15, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that God would help you to accurately examine your motives.  Pray for the humility that considers others to be better than yourself.  Pray that you would represent God well as you reflect the humility that has been shown to us by Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom