Ministry

Encouragement and Prayer: A God Who Hears My Requests! (10/11/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A God Who Hears My Requests! (10/11/21)

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This is the audio from the October 11, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about knowing a God who  hears.  It is a great comfort to know God’s promise that no matter where we are, He will be found by us when we seek Him with a whole heart.  He can be found by us because He hears us from wherever we are.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in a confidence that He not only hears you, but that He wants to hear you!  Pray that you would live as one who is not only heard by God, but also as one who is listened to.  Pray that this awareness of God hearing you would help you to be more consistent in talking with Him and in listening to Him.  Pray for the courage to cry out to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.  Pray that God would help you be one who hears others as you seek to reflect His nature to the people around you.

“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”
Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

Pray that your consistency in making your requests known to God would grow as your faith in Him hearing those requests also grows.  Pray that you would learn the value of both expecting and waiting as you trust God to hear your requests.

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

In prayer,
Tom

What Does God Want: ACT Justly (Sermon Audio)
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What Does God Want: ACT Justly (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio and outline from the October 10, 2021 sermon, “What Does God Want: ACT Justly”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Goshen Christian Church.

Text:  Micah 6:8, Matthew 23:23, Isaiah 56:1-2

I suspect we have all had our share of conversations and questions about what God wants and how to know His will.  Many of those discussions I have been involved with have often included an element of a person wanting to justify their own actions by either claiming they are doing what God wants or by saying what He wants is so elusive that it doesn’t matter.  Many times we try to get so specific about the details of life that we miss the big picture that God has stated clearly in His Word.  In fact, God said through the prophet Micah three things the Lord requires that ought to form the basis for our understanding of His will.  Today we look at the first of those three things, that we would act justly.

Learning to act justly requires that we learn God’s view of right and wrong and His view of justice which always centers around making things right.  Being able to act justly means that we will need to develop a(n)  . . .

  • Acceptance of Justice.  Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 56:1-2
    • Because justice deals with righteousness and morality, it is important that we accept God’s definitions of right and wrong in order to know and accept His view of justice.  Many times when we experience wrong done toward us, we cry out and claim we want justice when often what we really want is revenge and retribution.  While God’s laws are often clear about punishment and consequences for wrongdoing, woven throughout all of it is a desire that individuals would repent and make things right.  In fact, if our view of justice is the popular “everyone should get what they deserve” mentality then we have doomed ourselves to eternal separation from God.  It is through our acceptance of God’s view of justice that we find He has made a way through Jesus for us to be right with Him.
  • Commitment of Justice.  Psalm 106:3, Ezekiel 18:21
    • Accepting God’s view of justice for our self is only the beginning to our being able to act justly.  A commitment to justice done God’s way is needed by us in every part of our life.  Jesus taught that the forgiveness that we receive is proportional to the forgiveness we give to others.  This commitment to making things right will lead us to turn from the ways of sin to walk in obedience to God’s Word.  We act justly when our relationships with one another are built on a desire and practice of making things right between us regardless of who might be at fault in whatever differences we may have.
  • Teaching of Justice.  Isaiah 1:17, Romans 3:21-26
    • Accepting and committing to justice is good, but as with all good things God brings into our life, He wants us to be involved in teaching others the things we have learned.  We teach others when we treat them fairly when no one else will and they want to know why we’re different.  We teach others when we go out of our way to make things right with them when we could have easily ignored the situation between us.  God has made it clear that He has taken care of the offense between us and Him by being both just and the one who justifies.  God wasn’t the one who did wrong in the relationship between us and Him, but He is the One who stepped in and made things right through the blood of His Son, Jesus.  We act justly when we swallow our pride and teach others through our example of being forgiven so we can forgive others..

How will your ACT of Justice help you to act justly today?

Who do you need to make things right with today?

Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present As You Were Formed! (10/08/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present As You Were Formed! (10/08/21)

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This is the audio from the October 8, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would always know the great value you have as one knit together by God.  Pray that you would value life because of God’s presence in its creation.  Pray about how God would have you live in ways that acknowledge His presence as you were being formed.

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: Ever-Present In Darkness and In Light! (10/07/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present In Darkness and In Light! (10/07/21)

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This is the audio from the October 7, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
Psalm 139:11-12 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that the light of God’s presence would illuminate your path in the darkness of this world.  Pray that your life would be a light to others because of God’s presence 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: Ever-Present from Horizon to Horizon! (10/06/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present from Horizon to Horizon! (10/06/21)

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This is the audio from the October 6, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would know the presence of God in every place that you go.  Pray about how God would have you to share in His presence everywhere you go.  Pray that you would be guided by God’s presence.

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: Ever-Present In Heights or Depths! (10/05/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present In Heights or Depths! (10/05/21)

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This is the audio from the October 5, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Psalm 139:8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would seek God and know His presence in all the high points of your life.  Pray that you would find comfort and encouragement in God’s presence even in the deepest woes of life.  Pray that you would share God’s presence with others wherever they are.

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: Ever-Present In Spirit! (10/04/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present In Spirit! (10/04/21)

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This is the audio from the October 4, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.”
Jonah 1:3 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would learn to pay attention to God’s presence and find comfort in it.  Pray for greater courage to live life in obedience to God as you acknowledge His presence.  Pray about how you can more effectively represent God’s presence to others.

Ever-Present In Spirit

“Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?”
Psalm 139:7 (NIV)

Pray that you would live with a greater awareness of God’s Spirit dwelling within you.  Pray for the courage to live by the Spirit in ways that help others to know God is ever-present.  Pray that you would experience God’s presence even in the times you attempt to hide from Him.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Experiencing PEACE In the Storms (Sermon Audio)
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Experiencing PEACE In the Storms (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio and outline from the October 3, 2021 sermon, “Experiencing PEACE In the Storms”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 4:35 – 5:20

Life on earth is filled with troubles and “storms” of various kinds.  In fact, Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world.  But He didn’t leave it at that, He promised a peace that only He could give as the One who has overcome this world.  Our text today looked at two very different storms — the external storm the disciples endured while out with Jesus in a boat and an internal storm that a man endured because of demonic activity.  Jesus brought peace to both of these storms and He can help us overcome our storms as in Him we experience . . .

  • Power.  Mark 4:39, Romans 1:16
    • A lack of peace in life is often experienced when we realize we are powerless in whatever our current situation is.  It is through experiencing the power of God in our life that we can not only find peace, but share that peace with others.  When we know the good news of God’s Word as “the power of God unto salvation”, we realize there is more to life than what we experience here on earth.  God’s power to prepare us for eternity should bring with it a peace that comes from knowing we are in His hands through whatever storms we may face.
  • Education.  Mark 4:40, John 14:1
    • As Jesus spent time with His disciples, He was constantly teaching them about Himself, about His Father, and about the kingdom of heaven.  His purpose was that they would learn to trust Him no matter what.  The various types of storms they would go through, including the storm of His trial and crucifixion, would serve to teach them about trusting God in all circumstances.  Even as we pray for God to bring peace to us in the midst of our storms, we ought to also be asking Him to teach us all that we need to know for our faith and trust to grow.  It is through this process of education that we learn to have greater peace with each passing storm.
  • Adjustment.  Mark 5:15, 1 Peter 3:10-12
    • Even when we know we need it, most people seem to find the process of making changes in their life to be an unpleasant task at best.  There are times in life when the storms simply won’t diminish until we are willing to make some adjustments to our thoughts and actions.  It is when we allow God to help us to “be fully clothed and in our right mind” that we find the storm replaced by a peace which surpasses all understanding.  When we use the education of God’s Word to direct the adjustments that need to be made in our thinking, we find adjusted actions soon follow which will both honor God and bring peace to our being.
  • Courage.  Mark 5:19, Matthew 28:19-20
    • One of the purposes of experiencing the peace of God is to bring us to a point of sharing that peace with others.  While it may be comfortable to just hang out with Jesus and bask in our new found peace, His desire is to fill us with the courage needed to tell others about all that God has done in our life.  Jesus gave that instruction to the man set free from demonic activity and He gave it to each of His followers in what we often refer to as the great commission.  Our peace is meant to motivate us to make disciples wherever we go.  We are to overcome our fears and weaknesses and live with the courage of His Spirit helping us to share with others about the peace we have in Christ.
  • Excitement.  Mark 5:20
    • With this peace that God wants us to have comes an excitement that we should not be able to contain.  When people see you living with a spirit of peace even as you experience the storms of life, God has created an opportunity for you to share the excitement that comes from living as a child of God.  Having peace before a storm, during a storm, and after a storm is possible when you realize the storms are always temporary and God’s love endures forever.  Living with this kind of peace ought to invoke a sense of amazement within your own life and in the lives of those that see the way God helps you to handle whatever circumstances come your way.  There is very little as exciting as living with true peace unless it is seeing others come to know that same peace in Christ because of your example.

Today, how do you need to experience God’s PEACE?