Ministry

Encouragement and Prayer: Discernment to Guide Understanding! (08/09/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Discernment to Guide Understanding! (08/09/22)

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

“Who is wise? He will realize these things.  Who is discerning? He will understand them.  The ways of the LORD are right;  the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with courageous discernment.  Not everything is always as it first appears and there are many who attempt to deliberately deceive for a variety of reasons.  Discernment is the quality necessary to live in the world between “everything is permissible” and “not everything is beneficial”.  Discernment is a gift from God that helps us to live in the freedom of doing what benefits others according to their need.

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance — for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”
Proverbs 1:5-6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with a discernment that gives you a greater understanding of His righteous ways.  Pray for discernment to find God’s guidance in understanding the proverbs and parables of the Bible.  Pray that your discernment would lead to knowing and practicing the truth found in the sayings of the wise.

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: Discernment to Understand God’s Laws! (08/08/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Discernment to Understand God’s Laws! (08/08/22)

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

“Who is wise? He will realize these things.  Who is discerning? He will understand them.  The ways of the LORD are right;  the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with courageous discernment.  Not everything is always as it first appears and there are many who attempt to deliberately deceive for a variety of reasons.  Discernment is the quality necessary to live in the world between “everything is permissible” and “not everything is beneficial”.  Discernment is a gift from God that helps us to live in the freedom of doing what benefits others according to their need.  As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with a discernment that gives you a greater understanding of His righteous ways.  Pray that discernment would help you to choose the best — not only over what is bad, but perhaps more importantly, over what is simply “good enough”.  Pray that you would seek wisdom from God in all situations so that you would not be easily deceived.  Pray that your response to deception would always be one of integrity on your part.

“I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”
Psalm 119:125 (NIV)

Pray that you would serve God with discernment in order to understand how He works through His laws.  Pray that you would always live with discernment as a servant of God.  Pray for the discernment needed to accurately share the beauty of God’s laws 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: Overcoming Wandering! (08/05/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Overcoming Wandering! (08/05/22)

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This is the audio from the August 5, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7(NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will take another look at some things God calls His children to overcome.  While we may want a life of ease and comfort, Jesus says that life as a follower of Him will be filled with trouble, misunderstandings, and even persecution.  While that is not news that anyone really wants to hear, Jesus also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  When John wrote the messages from Jesus to the seven churches that we read of early in the book of Revelation, He ends each message with a promise for those who overcome.

“He who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”
Revelation 3:12 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to empower you to be an overcomer.  Pray that you would find a place of belonging in the temple of God so you would have no need to wander away from Him.  Pray that your life would help others know that they too have a place where they can belong.

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: Overcoming Abandonment! (08/04/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Overcoming Abandonment! (08/04/22)

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

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7(NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will take another look at some things God calls His children to overcome.  While we may want a life of ease and comfort, Jesus says that life as a follower of Him will be filled with trouble, misunderstandings, and even persecution.  While that is not news that anyone really wants to hear, Jesus also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  When John wrote the messages from Jesus to the seven churches that we read of early in the book of Revelation, He ends each message with a promise for those who overcome.

“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”
Revelation 3:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to empower you to be an overcomer.  Pray that you would overcome in a way that gives you a permanent place of belonging with those who are pure.  Pray that your life would help others know they can have a place of belonging.

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: Overcoming Oppression! (08/03/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Overcoming Oppression! (08/03/22)

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This is the audio from the August 3, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7(NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will take another look at some things God calls His children to overcome.  While we may want a life of ease and comfort, Jesus says that life as a follower of Him will be filled with trouble, misunderstandings, and even persecution.  While that is not news that anyone really wants to hear, Jesus also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  When John wrote the messages from Jesus to the seven churches that we read of early in the book of Revelation, He ends each message with a promise for those who overcome.

“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations — ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ — just as I have received authority from my Father.”
Revelation 2:26-27 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to empower you to be an overcomer.  Pray that you would be faithful in doing God’s will as He empowers you to overcome oppression with His authority. Pray for the courage to remain faithful in the midst of any opposition.

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: Overcoming the Past! (08/02/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Overcoming the Past! (08/02/22)

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This is the audio from the August 2, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7(NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will take another look at some things God calls His children to overcome.  While we may want a life of ease and comfort, Jesus says that life as a follower of Him will be filled with trouble, misunderstandings, and even persecution.  While that is not news that anyone really wants to hear, Jesus also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  When John wrote the messages from Jesus to the seven churches that we read of early in the book of Revelation, He ends each message with a promise for those who overcome.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”
Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to empower you to be an overcomer.  Pray that you would feast on the spiritual manna and rejoice in a new name that frees you from the past.  Pray that your eyes would be open to the power of God to help anyone overcome their past.

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: Overcoming Death! (08/01/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Overcoming Death! (08/01/22)

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

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7(NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will take another look at some things God calls His children to overcome.  While we may want a life of ease and comfort, Jesus says that life as a follower of Him will be filled with trouble, misunderstandings, and even persecution.  While that is not news that anyone really wants to hear, Jesus also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  When John wrote the messages from Jesus to the seven churches that we read of early in the book of Revelation, He ends each message with a promise for those who overcome.  As you pray this week, ask God to empower you to be an overcomer.  Pray that you would recognize, and overcome, the power of sin.  Pray that you would recognize, and value, what awaits those who overcome.  Pray that you would face whatever hardship comes your way with the courage that comes from knowing the crown of life is given to those who overcome.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
Revelation 2:11(NIV)

Pray that you would listen to the message of God’s Spirit as He calls you to overcome in a way that gives victory over death.  Pray that you would live with great hope as one who will overcome death by the power of Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom

The Courage To Overcome Sin! (Sermon Audio)
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The Courage To Overcome Sin! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 31, 2022 sermon, “The Courage To Overcome Sin”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 7 & 8

Life is full of high points and low points regardless of how we live, so having the courage to overcome is a valuable trait for everyone at all times. Sometimes, however, we face defeat because of sin and we must be courageous enough to overcome the sin in order to overcome the struggle. So, what does it look like for you and I to overcome . . .

  • Selfishness.  Joshua 7:20-21, James 4:3
    • Often at the heart of sin in our life is an element of selfishness.  It was the selfish nature of a man named Achan that brought about the need for Israel to overcome sin before victory could again be obtained.  As those who have been bought with the blood of Jesus, we should live a life devoted to Him in such a way that selfishness has no place to take root.  When we daily decide that God is in charge and that we are not, we begin to live with the courage to overcome selfishness.
  • Injury.  Joshua 7:4-5, James 4:1-2
    • Sin has a way of causing injury not only to the person who sins, but often to many others as well.  Israel’s army suffered defeat and the loss of lives because of sin in the camp.  Whether we are the one injured or the one causing injury, God expects us to look deep within His Word to see how He can bring forgiveness and healing.  When we allow God’s Spirit to convict us of sin and bring about a transformation in our life, we begin to live with the courage to overcome the injury sin has caused.
  • Neglect.  Joshua 8:1, James 4:17
    • While many people would not set out to intentionally sin, we find ourselves caught up in the sin of neglect by choosing not to do the things we know God has said we ought to do.  It appears to me that after the resounding victory over Jericho, Israel decided to forgo getting God’s direction on how to proceed and came up with their own plan for conquering the city of Ai.  At the very least, the plan implemented at the beginning of Joshua 7 was very different than the plan God directed at the beginning of chapter 8.  When we decide that everything is important enough for us to seek God’s counsel, we begin to live with the courage to overcome neglect.

Will you seek God’s help today to overcome SIN?