Impact Prayer Ministry Podcasts

Encouragement and Prayer: Serving Others! (04/04/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Serving Others! (04/04/22)

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This is the audio from the April 4, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“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)

“If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:7-8 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on spending time in prayer regarding the “good works” God created in advance for you to do.  God calls all who take on the name of Christ, as Christian, to be workers in His kingdom!  For the body of Christ to function effectively, each member must do their part.  While not everyone  has the same function in the body of Christ, we all have the same head.  It is as we live in submission to Jesus as our head that we grow not only as individuals, but also as a body.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with the humility of submission.  Pray that you would grow in obedience to God’s Word as you serve others with the various gifts and abilities God has given you.  Pray for a desire to do your part without comparisons to what others are doing.  Pray that the local body of Christ would function in a way that lifts up Jesus for the community to be drawn to Him.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45 (NIV)

Pray that God would help you see, and do, your part in serving the needs of one another.  Pray for a growing willingness to serve within the gathering of believers as God gives opportunity and ability.  Pray that you would represent Jesus well as you humble yourself and serve.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Making It PLAIN! (Sermon Audio)
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Making It PLAIN! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 3, 2022 sermon, “Making It PLAIN”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  2 Corinthians 6

While everyone of us stumble and fall at various times in our life, sometimes of our own doing, sometimes caused by others, and often caused by a combination of our self and others, we would do well to live in such a way that we don’t put a stumbling block in the path of anyone.  Because sometimes it is a lack of clarity that causes a person to stumble, we would do well to present the good news of Jesus in a way that we make it . . .

  • Personal.
    • We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it personal.  Everyone who has come to a saving faith in Jesus has a personal story of how that happened.  Paul writes of being commended as a servant through life circumstances that are difficult, pleasant, and everything in between.  When we personalize how God is with us in good times and bad, we help others see the hope which can be found in Christ.
  • Loving.
    • We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it loving.  Paul writes about his affection for the Corinthian people, even when they were not loving toward him.  When we learn to love people regardless of how they view us, we help make the good news of Jesus real.
  • Active.
    • We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it active.  When Paul writes about not being unequally yoked, I believe one of the things he is addressing is a consistency that we need to have when it comes to our words and actions pulling in the same direction.  While this section of 2 Corinthians is often applied to marriage, there are many other areas of life that we can find ourselves joined with people who are pulling in different directions.  God says we cannot serve two masters and our actions ought to show we only have one.
  • Instructive.
    • We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it instructive.  Paul makes it clear that the instruction he gives is not based on his wisdom but on God’s.  When we share with people, it is important that God’s Word is the foundation upon which we learn and teach.  The changes that God wants to make in our life are not random or arbitrary, rather they are always consistent with His Word.
  • Now.
    • We make the good news of Jesus plain to others when we make it now.  Paul made it clear that “now is the time of the Lord’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”  There is an urgency to the message because the message is a matter of life and death.

As you consider how the good news of Jesus has impacted your life, how will you be more involved in making it PLAIN to the people around you?

Encouragement and Prayer: Love One Another! (04/01/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Love One Another! (04/01/22)

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This is the audio from the April 1, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14(NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some godly instruction that Paul gives as he wraps up his first letter to the Corinthians.  Many times when we get to the end of a conversation or letter we become much more intentional and concise in trying to get our point across.  It seems to me that Paul has that same tendency as he gets to the end of this letter we know as 1 Corinthians.  These are not really new instructions he is giving but rather they are worded in order to convey urgency and importance to his readers then and to us.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of receiving, and living by, godly instruction.  Pray for a full acceptance of the greatness of God’s love for you.  Pray that your realization of God’s love would direct the way you love others.  Pray that your love for others would continue to grow deeply as you practice giving and receiving forgiveness.  Pray for a love that helps you to forgive the sins done against you just as God forgives the sins you commit against Him.

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: Be Strong! (03/31/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Be Strong! (03/31/22)

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This is the audio from the March 31, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14(NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some godly instruction that Paul gives as he wraps up his first letter to the Corinthians.  Many times when we get to the end of a conversation or letter we become much more intentional and concise in trying to get our point across.  It seems to me that Paul has that same tendency as he gets to the end of this letter we know as 1 Corinthians.  These are not really new instructions he is giving but rather they are worded in order to convey urgency and importance to his readers then and to us.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of receiving, and living by, godly instruction.  Pray that you would seek a strength that comes from God so that His power can be seen through you.  Pray that you would be consistent in putting on the full armor of God in order to find a strength which has a spiritual basis.  Pray that your actions would lead others to seek out a strength that comes from 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: Take Courage! (03/30/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Take Courage! (03/30/22)

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This is the audio from the March 30, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14(NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some godly instruction that Paul gives as he wraps up his first letter to the Corinthians.  Many times when we get to the end of a conversation or letter we become much more intentional and concise in trying to get our point across.  It seems to me that Paul has that same tendency as he gets to the end of this letter we know as 1 Corinthians.  These are not really new instructions he is giving but rather they are worded in order to convey urgency and importance to his readers then and to us.

“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”
Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of receiving, and living by, godly instruction.  Pray that you would live with a courage that comes from the presence of Jesus through His Spirit.  Pray for a courage that helps you to do what is right even when fear wants to lead you in a different direction.  Pray that your life would show others how to take courage when they find themselves fearful.

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: Stand Firm! (03/29/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Stand Firm! (03/29/22)

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This is the audio from the March 29, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14(NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some godly instruction that Paul gives as he wraps up his first letter to the Corinthians.  Many times when we get to the end of a conversation or letter we become much more intentional and concise in trying to get our point across.  It seems to me that Paul has that same tendency as he gets to the end of this letter we know as 1 Corinthians.  These are not really new instructions he is giving but rather they are worded in order to convey urgency and importance to his readers then and to us.

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Psalm 40:2 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of receiving, and living by, godly instruction.  Pray for a growing awareness of God’s ability to lift you out of whatever pit you are in.  Pray that you would always find the foundation of God’s Word to be a solid place where you can stand firm.  Pray that your testimony would help others know they can stand firm.

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: Be On Guard! (03/28/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Be On Guard! (03/28/22)

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This is the audio from the March 28, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14(NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some godly instruction that Paul gives as he wraps up his first letter to the Corinthians.  Many times when we get to the end of a conversation or letter we become much more intentional and concise in trying to get our point across.  It seems to me that Paul has that same tendency as he gets to the end of this letter we know as 1 Corinthians.  These are not really new instructions he is giving but rather they are worded in order to convey urgency and importance to his readers then and to us.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of receiving, and living by, godly instruction.  Pray that you would seek God’s wisdom as the center of the instructions you live by.  Pray for a heart of understanding for yourself and for those that you share godly instruction with.  Pray that you would not only understand the instructions that are found in God’s Word, but that you would seek God’s help in doing what His Word says.

Be On Guard!

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Pray that you would be on guard against the attacks of the enemy and all of his deceitfulness.  Pray for an alertness that helps you to not be caught off guard.  Pray for the courage and strength necessary to resist temptation as you guard your heart and mind.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Valuable Jar of CLAY! (Sermon Audio)
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A Valuable Jar of CLAY! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the March 20, 2022 sermon, “A Valuable Jar of CLAY”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  2 Corinthians 4

In the times when you feel plain and useless, it is important to realize you have great value because you are made by God, you are filled by God, and you are completed by God.  Regardless of how ordinary you feel you are, you have great value when you live as a jar of . . .

  • Compassion.
    • When we begin to realize God’s mercy sustains everything we do, it should become apparent just how much compassion He has shown to each one of us.  When our jar of clay is filled with compassion, the people around us can begin to know just how valuable they are to God.
  • Light.
    • When we live with the light of Jesus shining through everything we do, He ends up being the one who is seen.  In a world filled with darkness, God’s light in us becomes valuable not only to us but to all who see Him in us.
  • Ability/Availability.
    • It is far too easy to evaluate our abilities based on comparisons to someone else, and in so doing we often feel we fall short.  The good news is that God has uniquely gifted each one of us for specific work within the body of Christ.  Many times the ability God has filled our jar of clay with isn’t noticeable until we choose to make our self fully available to God.
  • Yeast.
    • Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that is mixed into the dough until it spreads and influences all of it.  You are a valuable jar of clay because you are part of that yeast that spreads the good news of the kingdom to everyone.  .

Today, how will you live as a valuable jar of CLAY?