Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Kindness! (2/14/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Kindness! (2/14/23)

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This is the audio from the February 14, 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 the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
2 Timothy 2:24 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that the Lord’s kindness to you would be your example in how you treat others.  Pray for the courage to treat others with kindness, especially when you disagree.  Pray that a practice of kindness would guide how you instruct 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: A Self of Compassion! (2/13/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Compassion! (2/13/23)

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This is the audio from the February 13, 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.  As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that you would continually grow in the characteristics that represent Christ accurately.  Pray that you would daily know the renewal that comes through the presence of Christ dwelling within you.  Pray for the courage to live in such a way that the people around you recognize how God can make them new.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 (NIV)

Pray that God’s compassion toward you would lead you to have compassion for others.  Pray that you would live as one chosen by God to be compassionate to everyone who chooses to return home to God.

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 SELF! (Sermon Audio)

A New SELF! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 12, 2023 sermon, “A New SELF!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Colossians 3:1-17

“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)

Today continued a sermon series with a focus on being Made New In Christ. Being made new in Christ will change who we are because it involves dying to self and living for Christ.  While there is so much that God wants to clothe us with, for that to change us, we must put off the old self before we put on the new . . .

  • Seriousness.  Colossians 3:1-4
    • When we put on a new seriousness, it’s all about changing the things we are serious about.  We must put off the serious pursuit of self and the things of this world in order to put on a seriousness about the things of God.
  • Example.  Colossians 3:5-11
    • When we put on a new example, it’s all about changing what people see in us.  It’s not so much that the things of this world bother us when they’re done by the people of this world, but rather they appall us when they are done by us.  We must put off the deeds of the flesh in order to put on the example of Christ for others to see.
  • Love.  Colossians 3:12-14
    • When we put on a new love, it’s all about changing who we value most.  We must put off the worldly love that is really all about self so that we can put on the godly love that pursues God above all else and considers others better than ourselves.
  • Focus.  Colossians 3:15-17
    • When we put on a new focus, it’s all about changing the direction of our gaze.  We must put off the old focus that kept us looking at our self and the things we desire so that we can put on a new focus to see Christ as the purpose in all we do.

Today, how will you put off the old self in order to put on a new SELF?

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Freedom! (2/10/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Freedom! (2/10/23)

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

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living under a new covenant as one who is made new in Christ.  The Bible teaches that the old covenant was a covenant of law designed to show mankind their need for something different.  The blood of Jesus not only fulfilled all the demands of the old covenant, it became the living document of the new covenant.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn and know the lessons taught by the old covenant.  Pray that you would know the freedom that comes from being released from the penalty demanded by law.  Pray that you would live with a freedom that can only come through the Spirit of God.  Pray that freedom would be the foundation of how you interact with 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: Covenant of Visibility! (2/9/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Visibility! (2/9/23)

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

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living under a new covenant as one who is made new in Christ.  The Bible teaches that the old covenant was a covenant of law designed to show mankind their need for something different.  The blood of Jesus not only fulfilled all the demands of the old covenant, it became the living document of the new covenant.

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
2 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn and know the lessons taught by the old covenant.  Pray that your eyes would be opened more fully each day to the goodness of God.  Pray that you would live with a life continually turned toward God so that He would lift the veil of confusion.  Pray about how God would have you live with clarity in noticing His presence at work in your 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: Covenant of Boldness! (2/8/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Boldness! (2/8/23)

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

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living under a new covenant as one who is made new in Christ.  The Bible teaches that the old covenant was a covenant of law designed to show mankind their need for something different.  The blood of Jesus not only fulfilled all the demands of the old covenant, it became the living document of the new covenant.

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”
2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn and know the lessons taught by the old covenant.  Pray for the courage to be bold in your recognition and sharing of the hope found through the new covenant established in Christ.  Pray that every aspect of your life would be lived according to the hope that is found in Christ.  Pray that the terms of the new covenant would lead to a boldness in sharing your faith.

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: Covenant of Glory! (2/7/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Glory! (2/7/23)

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This is the audio from the February 7, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living under a new covenant as one who is made new in Christ.  The Bible teaches that the old covenant was a covenant of law designed to show mankind their need for something different.  The blood of Jesus not only fulfilled all the demands of the old covenant, it became the living document of the new covenant.

“And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!”
2 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn and know the lessons taught by the old covenant. Pray that the fading glory which exists in this world would cause you to consider the greater glory of that which is eternal.  Pray that the things of temporary glory would not distract you from seeing that which is greater.  Pray for a growing desire to pursue that which is better.

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: Covenant of the Spirit! (2/6/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of the Spirit! (2/6/23)

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This is the audio from the February 6, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living under a new covenant as one who is made new in Christ.  The Bible teaches that the old covenant was a covenant of law designed to show mankind their need for something different.  The blood of Jesus not only fulfilled all the demands of the old covenant, it became the living document of the new covenant.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn and know the lessons taught by the old covenant.  Pray that you would gaze deeply into God’s Word to discover how the blood of Jesus paid what was demanded so you could live in the freedom of a new way.  Pray that you would have the desire to live in the way of the Spirit rather than the way of law.  Pray that your interactions with others would reflect the nature of the new covenant as you treat others in the way God has treated you.

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

Pray that you would know that God has equipped you by His Spirit to not only live under the new covenant, but to serve and share in that covenant with others.  Pray that you would live as one competent to share in the covenant of life.

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

In prayer,
Tom