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Growing As Those Who Pray STRONG! (Sermon Audio)
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Growing As Those Who Pray STRONG! (Sermon Audio)

This is the audio from the June 12, 2022 second service sermon, “Growing As Those Who Pray STRONG”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Spencer Christian Church.

Text: Ephesians 6:10 – 18

Learning to pray strong begins when we realize that the strength of our prayers is not by our power or might, but by the Spirit of the Living God.  

As we develop a lifestyle of prayer seeking to pray strong, we must learn to pray:

  • Submissively:
    • Matthew 6:10 — Perhaps one of the toughest parts of praying strong God’s way, is learning to empty our prayers of self and be fully submissive to God.  Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done on earth just as it is in heaven.  For that to happen, we must take captive every thought and motive that influences our prayers toward our selfish desires.
  • Truthfully: 
    • Luke 18:13 — I suppose we get so used to hiding behind a mask with one another that somehow a lack of honesty with God infiltrates our prayer life.  When we pray truthfully, we begin by being honest with  God about our own weaknesses, shortcomings, and sins so that they don’t become a hindrance to our prayers.  Adam and Eve’s communion with God was interrupted not only by sin, but by an ill-conceived attempt to hide the truth from God. 
  • Repentantly:
    • Matthew 18:3 — Learning to pray truthfully really only becomes powerful when we follow it up with praying repentantly.  It is not enough to be truthful with God about our attitudes and actions, we must turn away from all that is not of Him and allow His transforming power to change us.  Praying repentantly leads us to the freedom necessary to walk in conversation with God in all that we do. 
  • Observantly:
    • John 4:35 — The disciples that walked with Jesus each day often missed the opportunities that were right in front of them simply because they weren’t looking with the same kind of eyes that Jesus was looking with.  Praying observantly leads us to notice people and situations that are far too easy to walk by without a second thought.  When we ask God to open our eyes to see the fields which are ripe unto harvest, we soon discover that the harvest is indeed plentiful and it is much closer than we probably thought.
  • Noticeably
    • Matthew 5:16 — While praying noticeably may sound contradictory to the scripture that tells us to go into our closet and pray in secret, there is a difference between praying to be noticed and praying that is noticed.  In fact, if we learn from Jesus, we see that His prayer life got the attention of the disciples to such an extent that it was the one thing we find recorded in scripture that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them.  Prayer ought to make such a difference in our life that people notice it and even if they don’t know prayer is the reason, they want to know how to have what we have.
  • Globally
    • Matthew 9:38 — I suspect when you read this topic, one of the first things that comes to mind is to pray for those involved in missions work around the world.  While that definitely is included, the oft overlooked part of praying globally is the fact that your next door neighbor, coworker, stranger you encounter in your day to day life, and the homeless person sleeping on the streets are all part of the global population.  Praying globally will have you praying for people who are like you and for people who are very different from you no matter where they live.

When I think about praying strong, I think about Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel.   If you didn’t know the story and who was on which “team”, I think the American concept of praying strong would tend to choose the wrong side of this epic showdown.  Rather than finding strength in numbers, volume, activity, or even length of prayer time, the real strength of prayer was found in a sole individual who humbly asked God to answer in such a way that the people would have no doubt that God was indeed the one and only true God. 

I pray that you and I would learn to pray Submissively, Truthfully, Repentantly, Observantly, Noticeably, and Globally in such a way that those who are watching us would know that the God we serve is the one and only true God.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Judged According To Integrity! (06/13/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Judged According To Integrity! (06/13/22)

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This is the audio from the June 13, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:37 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on some things that God says about integrity.  Selfishness and situational ethics have made integrity a dying characteristic — everyone else does “it”, so will I.  Integrity is a part of God’s nature so it is a characteristic we ought to pursue in our life in order to better reflect Jesus to the world.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your commitment to letting your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’.  Pray that the message you present with your life would match what you say with your words, and that both would match God’s Word.  Pray that you would make a life of integrity a priority each day you live.

“Let the LORD judge the peoples.  Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.”
Psalm 7:8 (NIV)

Pray that you would live in such a way that you have no fear when the One who knows your heart judges you according to your integrity.  Pray for the humility needed to live with confidence in your integrity and in the righteousness of God.

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: Unity of Faith! (06/10/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Unity of Faith! (06/10/22)

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This is the audio from the June 10, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on different aspects of unity from God’s perspective.  It seems nearly everyone loves the idea of unity, if people would just agree with me (what I say, what I like, what I want, what I . . .) though really we just want conformity, not unity.  Real unity comes when we decide it’s all about what God says, wants, and desires and not about me!

“Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13 (NIV)

As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray for the maturity to get along with one another as we all mature into a unity of faith.  Pray that your knowledge of Jesus would lead you to a unity of faith that results in growing into the fullness of Christ.

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: Unity of Spirit! (06/09/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Unity of Spirit! (06/09/22)

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This is the audio from the June 9, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on different aspects of unity from God’s perspective.  It seems nearly everyone loves the idea of unity, if people would just agree with me (what I say, what I like, what I want, what I . . .) though really we just want conformity, not unity.  Real unity comes when we decide it’s all about what God says, wants, and desires and not about me!

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.”
Romans 15:5 (NIV)

As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray for a unity of spirit among your church family that is based on following Christ Jesus.  Pray that you would grow in endurance as God encourages and leads you to a greater unity through following Christ.  Pray that a unity of spirit would identify you as a follower of Christ.

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: Called To Complete Unity! (06/08/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Called To Complete Unity! (06/08/22)

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This is the audio from the June 8, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on different aspects of unity from God’s perspective.  It seems nearly everyone loves the idea of unity, if people would just agree with me (what I say, what I like, what I want, what I . . .) though really we just want conformity, not unity.  Real unity comes when we decide it’s all about what God says, wants, and desires and not about me!

“I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
John 17:23 (NIV)

As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray that your pursuit of complete unity in Christ would help others to see Jesus and the love of God in you.  Pray that love would be the foundation of your unity in a world that needs to see the love of God in you.

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: Unity of Life! (06/07/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Unity of Life! (06/07/22)

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This is the audio from the June 7, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on different aspects of unity from God’s perspective.  It seems nearly everyone loves the idea of unity, if people would just agree with me (what I say, what I like, what I want, what I . . .) though really we just want conformity, not unity.  Real unity comes when we decide it’s all about what God says, wants, and desires and not about me!

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray for unity in the individual families of your congregation and throughout the family of your congregation so that life together will be “good and pleasant”.  Pray that you would learn to live in unity while honoring the uniqueness of individuals.

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: Unity of Mind! (06/06/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Unity of Mind! (06/06/22)

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This is the audio from the June 6, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on different aspects of unity from God’s perspective.  It seems nearly everyone loves the idea of unity, if people would just agree with me (what I say, what I like, what I want, what I . . .) though really we just want conformity, not unity.  Real unity comes when we decide it’s all about what God says, wants, and desires and not about me!  Use the suggestions each day but most of all allow God’s Word to soak into your life and direct how you pray and who you pray for.   As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  As you pray, listen for what God would have you to do. 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.

“Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 30:12 (NIV)

Pray for a unity of mind among the people of God so that the work of the kingdom is not hindered.  Pray that the Word of God would be the source for the unity of mind you seek.

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

In prayer,
Tom

The Power of ONE! (Sermon Audio)
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The Power of ONE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the June 5, 2022 sermon, “The Power of ONE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  John 17:20-23, Acts 2

When we respond to the prayer of Jesus to live as those who are one with Him and with one another, we find a power that we would never know alone.  It is in Christ that we discover the real power of . . .

  • Obedience.  Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:1-4, 1 Samuel 15:22-23
    • The events recorded in the second chapter of Acts on the day of Pentecost are often looked at as the birth of the church.  The power unleashed that day through the activity of God’s Spirit began with the power of obedience.  The disciples of Jesus had been instructed by Him to wait until they received the gift promised to them.  Their obedience in waiting led to them all being in one place when God’s Spirit was poured out upon them in a mighty way.  While our flesh tends to lead us to desiring our own way in everything, God’s calling to us is one that should lead us to obedience.  When we learn to obey Christ as our head in everything, we find a power of unity that nothing else can duplicate.
  • Necessity.  Acts 2:36-41, Acts 4:12, 1 Peter 3:10-12
    • I suspect there are things that each one of us do that are not because we really want to, but rather because we feel, know, or are convinced that we must.  It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention because absolute need can be a powerful motivation.  As Peter addresses the confusion surrounding the outpouring of God’s Spirit, he proclaims that what is being witnessed is what the prophet Joel had spoken of many years earlier.  From that point he explains Jesus as the fulfillment of scripture and made it clear that God had made this same Jesus that they had crucified to be both Lord and Christ.  When confronted with the knowledge of who Jesus really was and what they had really done, the people were cut to the heart and wanted to know what they must do.  Peter’s answer was that each person must repent and be immersed for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of God’s Spirit.  With the power of necessity at work, about three thousand people responded to the message that day.  We live with the power of necessity when we take God’s Word seriously and realize His commands and instructions are not simply good ideas or suggestions, but rather our necessities of life itself.
  • Example.  Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, 1 Timothy 4:12
    • When Jesus prayed that those who believed in Him would be one with Him and with one another, He acknowledged that it was in doing so that the world would know we are His disciples.  As the people of the first century responded obediently to the necessity of God’s message, the world noticed in such a way that many saw something they wanted and we read that God was adding daily those who were being saved.  In fact, it was noted by those watching that these untrained followers of Jesus were turning the world upside down.  When we live with this kind of power of example, we also have the capacity for God to use us in ways that get Jesus noticed.  The example of the early church was one of caring, sharing, and serving one another in ways that were not only needed, but could only be explained by the power of God at work in them.  We live by the power of example when we let Jesus be seen in everything we do.

Will you live in unity with Christ and others today in a way that leads each of us, and those around us, to experience the power of ONE?