Ministry

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?

Encouragement and Prayer: Conversation That Is Full Of Grace! (05/20/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Conversation That Is Full Of Grace! (05/20/22)

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This is the audio from the May 20, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on the topic of Grace!  Grace is an incredible gift from God that goes beyond us simply not getting the punishment we deserve, but it is God giving us a gift we don’t deserve — a gift only He can give.  Grace not only covers our weaknesses, it reveals the very nature of God through our weaknesses.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that God’s grace would draw you to Him as you look to Him in your time of need.  Pray that the words you use would always be filled with the grace of God.  Pray for wisdom to answer people with a grace that comes from God.  Pray that the people around you would have a glimpse of God’s grace through what you say.

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: God’s Grace In Your Time Of Need! (05/19/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: God’s Grace In Your Time Of Need! (05/19/22)

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This is the audio from the May 19, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on the topic of Grace!  Grace is an incredible gift from God that goes beyond us simply not getting the punishment we deserve, but it is God giving us a gift we don’t deserve — a gift only He can give.  Grace not only covers our weaknesses, it reveals the very nature of God through our weaknesses.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that God’s grace would draw you to Him as you look to Him in your time of need.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would give you confidence in approaching God for His grace in your times of need.  Pray that you would share about the mercy of God which extends His grace freely to all who come to Him because of their need.

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: Justified By God’s Grace! (05/18/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Justified By God’s Grace! (05/18/22)

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This is the audio from the May 18, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on the topic of Grace!  Grace is an incredible gift from God that goes beyond us simply not getting the punishment we deserve, but it is God giving us a gift we don’t deserve — a gift only He can give.  Grace not only covers our weaknesses, it reveals the very nature of God through our weaknesses.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that God’s grace would draw you to Him as you look to Him in your time of need.  Pray that an awareness of your own sin would lead you to acknowledge your need for God’s grace.  Pray that you would accept God’s grace as enough to cover your sin and justify you before 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: Saved By God’s Grace! (05/16/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Saved By God’s Grace! (05/16/22)

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This is the audio from the May 17, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on the topic of Grace!  Grace is an incredible gift from God that goes beyond us simply not getting the punishment we deserve, but it is God giving us a gift we don’t deserve — a gift only He can give.  Grace not only covers our weaknesses, it reveals the very nature of God through our weaknesses.

“No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Acts 15:11 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that God’s grace would draw you to Him as you look to Him in your time of need.  Pray for a growing understanding of the way God’s grace leads to salvation.  Pray that you would accurately portray God’s grace as the only way for anyone to be saved.  Pray that the people around you would find salvation through the grace 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

Encouragement and Prayer: Blessings From God’s Grace! (05/16/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Blessings From God’s Grace! (05/16/22)

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This is the audio from the May 16, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis this week will focus on the topic of Grace!  Grace is an incredible gift from God that goes beyond us simply not getting the punishment we deserve, but it is God giving us a gift we don’t deserve — a gift only He can give.  Grace not only covers our weaknesses, it reveals the very nature of God through our weaknesses.  As you pray this week, pray that God’s grace would draw you to Him as you look to Him in your time of need.  Pray that your pursuit of God would lead you to a better understanding of God’s grace.  Pray that you would know the value of grace to be better than strength.  Pray for the humility needed to allow God’s presence to not only work through your weaknesses, but to be seen clearly in them.  Pray that your experience of God’s grace would help you share the good news of that grace with others.

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.”
John 1:16 (NIV)

Pray with thanksgiving for the blessings that you receive through God’s grace.  Pray that God would help you to know the truth about His blessings which far exceed the stuff of this world.  Pray that the people around you would realize the blessings that a relationship with Jesus brings.

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

In prayer,
Tom

All-Sufficient GRACE! (Sermon Audio)
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All-Sufficient GRACE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 15, 2022 sermon, “All-Sufficient GRACE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  2 Corinthians 12:7 – 13:11

God has a way of bringing “thorn in the flesh” situations into our life for our benefit and, like Paul, we have a tendency to want them removed as quickly as possible.  I believe these last two chapters of 2 Corinthians are not only God’s answer to Paul, but they also show Paul’s response to living out the all-sufficient grace of God.  While grace is often defined as an undeserved gift, as I look into the nature of God and the actions of Paul, I see at least five characteristics which represent the grace we need and the grace we ought to share with others.  When the lessons of life seem overwhelming to us and to the people around us, God calls us to lean into, and share, His all-sufficient . . .

  • Goodness.  2 Corinthians 12:14-15, Romans 15:14, 2 Peter 1:3
    • Paul was willing to give of himself because he understood the all-sufficient goodness of God as a good and loving Father.  God’s nature is provide what is best for the good of His children regardless of their level of obedience.  It is a self-sacrificing goodness best demonstrated through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  We carry the all-sufficient goodness of God to others when we help others reach the full potential that can be theirs as a child of God.
  • Restoration.  2 Corinthians 12:19-21, Galatians 6:1, 1 Peter 5:10
    • As one who had lived in total opposition to the gospel of Jesus and to those who believed it, Paul knew first hand the all-sufficient restoration of God.  The power of God at work in a life goes much deeper than a simple surface change — it is a complete restoration to make a new creation in the person sin had destroyed.  Recognizing the tension between what was, what is, and what will be is at the heart of living not only as one who has been restored by God, but as one who carries a message of an all-sufficient restoration to everyone regardless of where they are currently at in the process.
  • Acceptance.  2 Corinthians 13:4-6, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 15:7
    • Paul makes it clear in a number of his writings that he considers himself to be the least worthy of God’s love, yet because of that love he knows the grace of an all-sufficient acceptance.  I suspect that many times we struggle with the word acceptance because there are those that thinks it means nothing needs to change.  God’s acceptance of me, and of you, is always as we are but with His expectation that we will be transformed by His presence in us.  Even when we, or the people around us, are not living fully as we ought, God calls us to accept one another just as He in Christ has accepted us.  Living out that instruction leads us to embrace one another with an all-sufficient acceptance.
  • Compassion.  2 Corinthians 13:9-10, Luke 15:20, 2 Corinthians 1:3
    • As a spiritual parent to the Corinthian church, Paul understood what it meant to share in the pain of others with an all-sufficient compassion.  He understood this is the compassion that God demonstrated toward him even as he lived in opposition to the gospel message.  The picture of the father in the story of the prodigal son is of a dad that has waited for his son to come to his senses and choose to come home.  That home-coming scene is an incredible image of compassion and embrace instead of judgment and condemnation.  We carry that all-sufficient compassion when we welcome home all who have strayed . . . even our self.
  • Encouragement.  2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, Hebrews 3:13
    • Paul knew the value of receiving an all-sufficient encouragement from God and from the people God used for that purpose.  Throughout his letters to the churches, we find that encouraging believers everywhere is a core concern of his.  Even when writing the difficult words of needed correction and rebuke, Paul seems to have always done so in ways meant to offer hope and confidence.  In the midst of what seems to be ever-increasing discouragement among people everywhere, imagine the difference you can make in the lives of people when you carry the message of an all-sufficient encouragement that can be found through the grace of God.

How do you need to experience, and share, the all-sufficient GRACE of God today?