Encouragement & Prayer (7/28/20)

 

This is the audio from the July 28, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Living Free:  Free From Sin and Death

Living Free: Free From Sin and Death

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 8 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-five with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free from sin and death.

Free From Sin and Death

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

How often do you consider the effects of sin when you think about death?  Does death cause you to think about sin in your own life?  Have you ever felt powerless when it came to overcoming a particular sin in your life?  Why?  If sin has any power in your life, who gives it that power?  Explain.  What do you think gives even the thought of death the power that it seems to have over many people?  How should God setting a person free from sin break the power that death holds over them?

I don’t like the unknown.  My brain wiring seems to make surprises a frightening thing.  For many, I think death is somewhat frightening because of the many unknown aspects surrounding it.  Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Christian can be set free from the power of sin and death.  Not that our physical body never dies, but the freedom comes in knowing that sin has lost its power to result in our real death — separation from God.  As you pray, ask God to help you believe He has set you free from the power of sin and death.  Pray that you would view physical death differently as you live with confidence in God’s freedom.

In prayer,

Tom  

Encouragement & Prayer (7/27/20)

 

This is the audio from the July 27, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Living Free:  Free To Share the Good News!

Living Free: Free To Share the Good News!

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 9 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-four with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free to serve others.

Free To Share the Good News!

“Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:45 (NIV)

Have you ever been asked to keep a secret that was such happy news that you simply couldn’t keep it to yourself?  What did you do?  Why?  Are there things that happen in your life that you “just can’t wait” to tell others about?  Why?  What are some reasons why you might not share about the good things that happen to you?  Does knowing someone else could experience the same joy that you have, influence your willingness to share good news with them?  Why?

Several times Jesus asked people not to tell others who He was or what He had done for them, but it seems they could not help themselves — they had to share the good news.  Christ has set us free with the instructions for those who follow Him today to share the good news everywhere we go, yet many of us struggle with doing that.   Sometimes I think we make sharing about Jesus way too complicated.  We are set free to simply share the good news of what Jesus has done in our life.  As you pray, ask God to give you excitement over opportunities to share what He has done in your life.  Pray that you would want to share good news with people.

In prayer,

Tom  

Encouragement & Prayer (7/26/20)

 

This is the audio from the July 26, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Living Free:  Free To Serve Others

Living Free: Free To Serve Others

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 10 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-three with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free to serve others.

Free To Serve Others

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

How is serving others related to serving God?  Is it possible to serve God without serving others?  Why?  Are there people you enjoy serving?  Are there people you would rather not serve?  What makes the difference?  Do you find more enjoyment in having to serve people or in serving them out of love?  Why?  What things keep you from wanting to serve someone?  How does gazing into God’s perfect law set you free to serve others?  Does the “one another” part in God’s instructions to serve make it easier or more difficult?  Why?

Many people have nothing against the idea of serving, as long as they are the one being served.  Just as God has set us free in order to serve Him, He also calls us to use that freedom to serve one another.  While this means we have the responsibility to serve others, the “one another” part also means there are times we have the privilege of being served.  God’s desire is that we not take the practice of serving for granted, but that we serve because we love.  As you pray, ask God to help you notice opportunities to serve.  Pray that you would be filled with His love, and a love for people, as you serve one another.

In prayer,

Tom  

Encouragement & Prayer (7/25/20)

 

This is the audio from the July 25, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Living Free:  Free To Serve God

Living Free: Free To Serve God

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 11 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-two with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free to serve God.

Free To Serve God

“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

How willing are you to serve your family?  Your church?  Your God?  What things make you more willing?  Less willing?  Why?  Are there times when you want to serve in some capacity but don’t feel free to do so?  Why?  Are there things that you have the freedom to do that you shouldn’t do?  Why?  How would you live as a servant of God if you felt greater freedom to do so?  What changes do you need to make in order to experience a true freedom to serve God in the midst of where you currently are?

In a culture that tends to worship freedom more than we worship God, God desires that we use our freedom to live as His servant.  Many times I hear Christians talk about wishing they had the freedom to do specific tasks that sound big and noble.  We don’t seem to mind the idea of serving God if we can do so in a manner that people notice.  Yet God wants us to be free to serve Him regardless of where we are or how small the task may seem.  As you pray, ask God to help you examine how you use your freedom.  Pray that your freedom in Christ would be used to live as a servant of the Lord.

In prayer,

Tom