Ministry

A Firm PLAN In an Uncertain World! (Sermon Audio)
by

A Firm PLAN In an Uncertain World! (Sermon Audio)

~

This is the audio from the March 13, 2022 sermon, “A Firm PLAN In an Uncertain World”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  2 Corinthians 1:12-24

When life appears to be messed up with nothing going according to your own plans, it is time to turn to God and consider living life with a firm . . .

  • Preparation.  2 Corinthians 1:12
    • When life doesn’t go according to your plan, it is time to draw from a depth of preparation.  We prepare for the uncertainties of this world by being students of God’s Word and finding it to be useful in every situation we face.  When we live as one prepared by the Word of God, we find that no matter what happens we can truly be “workmen who need not be ashamed”.
  • Love.  2 Corinthians 1:13-16
    • When life doesn’t go according to your plan, it is time to draw from a depth of love.  When we grow in loving like Jesus loves, we look for His work in the lives of others and we lift them up because we are one in Christ.  While the world, and the prince of this age, tries to divide us in every way imaginable, God calls us to a firm love that cares for others even more than we care for our self.
  • Attitude.  2 Corinthians 1:17-19
    • When life doesn’t go according to your plan, it is time to draw from an attitude that is the same as that of Christ Jesus.  This is an attitude that sought to do the will of His Father no matter what.  We must continually remind ourselves that God is in charge and we are not.  This is an attitude of flexibility when it comes to our schedule and plans so we do not become tied to what we want when God has something different for us to do.  It is a firm attitude that chooses to make all of our plans in submission to God so that His will is what matters most.
  • Nature.  2 Corinthians 1:20-22
    • When life doesn’t go according to your plan, it is time to draw on a nature that is fed by the Spirit rather than by the flesh.  We all have things that we are naturally good at . . . things that come easy to us and have been improved through practice and training.  Sometimes we may struggle to know what that is, but God has not left anyone out in regard to being useful in the body of Christ.  How we react in a world of uncertainty is largely dependent on what comes naturally to us.  And what comes naturally to us is dependent on what seeds we continually plant in our life.  God says that we will not only reap what we sow, but we will reap more than we sow.  When we sow to the sinful nature, we reap sinful results in even greater measure.  As discouraging as that may sound, the good news is that when we sow to the spiritual nature, we reap a spiritual harvest that far exceeds what we planted.

As you consider the uncertainties of this world, and of your own life, how will you choose today to live with a firm PLAN in everything you do?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Wisdom Of the Spirit! (03/11/22)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: A Wisdom Of the Spirit! (03/11/22)

~

This is the audio from the March 11, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on knowing a wisdom that is powerful because it comes from God.  If you have ever been talked into something that you later regretted, you should have great appreciation for the message of the gospel which relies on the power of God at work in those who hear.  Because the power of God does not reside in the wisdom of man, our actions and words speak with power when they rely on His Word rather than our desires.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate whose version of power you live by.  Pray for a willingness to be still and know the presence of God’s Spirit within you.  Pray for a desire to understand the things revealed by God’s Spirit to those who are His children.  Pray that you would seek a wisdom that could only come from God’s Spirit as you share the good news of Jesus 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: A Wisdom Of God’s Word! (03/10/22)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: A Wisdom Of God’s Word! (03/10/22)

~

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

“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on knowing a wisdom that is powerful because it comes from God.  If you have ever been talked into something that you later regretted, you should have great appreciation for the message of the gospel which relies on the power of God at work in those who hear.  Because the power of God does not reside in the wisdom of man, our actions and words speak with power when they rely on His Word rather than our desires.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate whose version of power you live by.  Pray that you would know the “hidden wisdom” that has been made known in God’s Word.  Pray that you would live in the midst of God’s great love as He prepares for you things which are indescribable.

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 Wisdom Of Understanding! (03/09/22)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: A Wisdom Of Understanding! (03/09/22)

~

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

“None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
1 Corinthians 2:8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on knowing a wisdom that is powerful because it comes from God.  If you have ever been talked into something that you later regretted, you should have great appreciation for the message of the gospel which relies on the power of God at work in those who hear.  Because the power of God does not reside in the wisdom of man, our actions and words speak with power when they rely on His Word rather than our desires.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate whose version of power you live by.  Pray that the power of God’s wisdom would fill you with an understanding that only He can give.  Pray that God’s wisdom living in you would transform you from being an enemy of Christ to a child 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: A Wisdom Of Glory! (03/08/22)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: A Wisdom Of Glory! (03/08/22)

~

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

“No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
1 Corinthians 2:7 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on knowing a wisdom that is powerful because it comes from God.  If you have ever been talked into something that you later regretted, you should have great appreciation for the message of the gospel which relies on the power of God at work in those who hear.  Because the power of God does not reside in the wisdom of man, our actions and words speak with power when they rely on His Word rather than our desires.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate whose version of power you live by.  Pray that you would seek out a wisdom that has been hidden from those claiming to be wise — a wisdom that results in God’s glory being reflected in you.  Pray that you would share with others about a wisdom that endures all time.

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 Wisdom Of Maturity! (03/07/22)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: A Wisdom Of Maturity! (03/07/22)

~

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

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on knowing a wisdom that is powerful because it comes from God.  If you have ever been talked into something that you later regretted, you should have great appreciation for the message of the gospel which relies on the power of God at work in those who hear.  Because the power of God does not reside in the wisdom of man, our actions and words speak with power when they rely on His Word rather than our desires.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate whose version of power you live by.  Pray that you would choose to live by a faith which grows from the power of God’s Word.  Pray for the humility which chooses not to complicate the message of the gospel.  Pray for the patience needed to allow God’s Spirit to do the work of conviction and transformation needed in your life and the lives of others.  Pray that your life would be a demonstration to others of the power of God’s Spirit.

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.”
1 Corinthians 2:6 (NIV)

Pray that you would grow in a maturity which understands the wisdom of God’s Word.  Pray that your sharing about Jesus would always choose the path of God’s wisdom rather than the wisdom of this world.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Living As CLEAN (Sermon Audio)
by

Living As CLEAN (Sermon Audio)

~

This is the audio from the March 6, 2022 sermon, “Living As CLEAN”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 7:1-37

When God calls us to come near to Him, He tells us to wash our hands and purify our heart.  As the One inviting us to the wedding banquet of the Lamb, it is time we clean up for dinner.  To live as one who is actually clean, God calls us to live as . . .

  • Compassionate.  Mark 7:9-13
    • When the religious leaders complain about the disciples of Jesus eating without washing their hands, Jesus turns and points out their love for legalism that is greater than their love for people.  In fact, the religious leaders would fail to show compassion toward their own parents and use a commitment to God as their excuse.  When God calls us to live as one who is clean, He calls us to live with compassion for all people.
  • Learning.  Mark 7:14-16
    • The moment any person decides they know all they need to know, they stop growing.  God’s Word is given to help each of us learn more about Him and how to live as His child.  When it comes to being clean, God wants us to learn what really makes us unclean so that we would avoid those things.  Jesus taught that it is what comes out of a person that makes them unclean rather than what went in.  When God calls us to live as one who is clean, He calls us to live a life of learning.
  • Explaining.  Mark 7:17-23
    • One of the great things about the gospels is that they are not only full of Jesus teaching much that we need to learn, they also contain many accounts of Him explaining His teachings to His disciples.  As important as it is to know the Word of God, the key to it becoming transformational in our life is to allow it to explain how we ought to live.  As we grow in Christ, our role ought to include being able and willing to explain the good news of Jesus to others.  When God calls us to live as one who is clean, He calls us to live a life of accurate explaining.
  • Accepting.  Mark 7:27-30
    • Once you understand the explaining done by Jesus regarding what makes a person unclean, it ought to become clear that without Jesus we are all equal in that department.  In our text, we find Jesus moving from an explanation of sin making us unclean to an encounter with a woman who would have been considered unclean by the religious leaders because of her nationality.  After an encounter that I believe was meant to teach us a truth about acceptance, Jesus declares a healing of this woman’s daughter because of the mom’s faith.  When God calls us to live as one who is clean, He calls us to live a life that is accepting of one another just as Christ as accepted us.
  • New.  Mark 7:36-37
    • The next event recorded for us by Mark was the healing by Jesus of a man who was deaf and mute.  While Jesus tells the man and those witnessing the healing not to tell anyone, they can’t help but spread the news about how Jesus has made him new.  As you consider all of your own history in light of the things Jesus says makes a person unclean, it should become painfully obvious that you needed to become a new person in order to be clean.  Fortunately, God says that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has arrived.  When God calls us to live as one who is clean, He calls us to live a life that is new

Today, will you live as one who is CLEAN?

Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For God’s Strength In Others! (03/04/22)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For God’s Strength In Others! (03/04/22)

~

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

“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being thankful for one another.  Who do you think of when you read that line?  I suspect that most of the time we think of those that we are already thankful for and dismiss the idea in our mind that it should apply to anyone else.  Especially within the body of Christ, God’s desire is that we learn to be thankful for every one of the “one anothers”.  A good starting point for learning to do that is to practice being thankful for what God has done, is doing, and will do in their life.

As you pray this week, ask God to  help you grow in thankfulness for all “who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  Pray with thankfulness for the strength which God provides.  Pray that the people around you would have a strength of faith that endures.  Pray for a heart that rejoices in the strength and victory others find through Jesus.

At the end of yesterday’s broadcast, I talked about one way you can help the people of Ukraine that have been, and are being, displaced.  While there are many groups and missions which are doing good work, I would highly recommend the ministry of IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service) as a means of supporting the ongoing need for help and hope.  I have volunteered with IDES numerous times in disaster relief response here in the United States and I believe wholeheartedly in the way they provide help in the name of Jesus.  Their structure is such that 100 percent of all giving towards a specific need actually goes to that need.  They are currently providing help and funding to various mission partners in Romania, Poland, and Moldova who are providing food and shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.  You can find more information and give at IDES.org.  Thank you!

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

In prayer,
Tom