Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Comfort! (8/14/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Comfort! (8/14/25)

This is the audio from the August 14, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’”
Matthew 26:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some of the promises of God.  As Jesus lived on earth, the religious leaders would plot against Him, somehow thinking they could get the upper hand, not realizing that their plans were not a secret to Jesus.  He not only knew the plotting that was being done, He knew how those plots would fulfill His promises.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises, especially when it takes longer for them to be fulfilled than what you would like.  Pray for the heart, mind, and eyes to see how God has not only extended His promises to you, but calls you to share in extending His promises to others.

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”
Psalm 119:76 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that a recognition of God’s unfailing love would comfort you in your times of greatest pain.  Pray that you would be obedient in comforting others with the comfort God has given you according to His promises.  Pray for an awareness of  how the enemy wants to destroy the comfort you receive from God’s promises.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Graciousness! (8/13/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Graciousness! (8/13/25)

This is the audio from the August 13, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’”
Matthew 26:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some of the promises of God.  As Jesus lived on earth, the religious leaders would plot against Him, somehow thinking they could get the upper hand, not realizing that their plans were not a secret to Jesus.  He not only knew the plotting that was being done, He knew how those plots would fulfill His promises.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises, especially when it takes longer for them to be fulfilled than what you would like.  Pray for the heart, mind, and eyes to see how God has not only extended His promises to you, but calls you to share in extending His promises to others.

“I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:58 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would know the graciousness of God as you seek Him with a whole heart.  Pray that you would learn to be gracious with others as you realize how much you experience the graciousness of God’s promises to you.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Salvation! (8/12/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Salvation! (8/12/25)

This is the audio from the August 12, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’”
Matthew 26:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some of the promises of God.  As Jesus lived on earth, the religious leaders would plot against Him, somehow thinking they could get the upper hand, not realizing that their plans were not a secret to Jesus.  He not only knew the plotting that was being done, He knew how those plots would fulfill His promises.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises, especially when it takes longer for them to be fulfilled than what you would like.  Pray for the heart, mind, and eyes to see how God has not only extended His promises to you, but calls you to share in extending His promises to others.

“May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:41 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would know the unfailing love of God that gives the promise of salvation.  Pray that you would share with others about the salvation God has brought to you as you live for Him.  Pray that you would overcome the plots of the enemy which plant seeds of doubt.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Peace! (8/11/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Peace! (8/11/25)

This is the audio from the August 11, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’”
Matthew 26:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on some of the promises of God.  As Jesus lived on earth, the religious leaders would plot against Him, somehow thinking they could get the upper hand, not realizing that their plans were not a secret to Jesus.  He not only knew the plotting that was being done, He knew how those plots would fulfill His promises.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises, especially when it takes longer for them to be fulfilled than what you would like.  Pray for the heart, mind, and eyes to see how God has not only extended His promises to you, but calls you to share in extending His promises to others.

“I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints — but let them not return to folly.”
Psalm 85:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would listen to God and find a peace in Him that the world cannot take away.  Pray that you would share God’s peace with others as you fully reject a life built on folly.  Pray that the plots of others would not lead you to give up your peace.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Following Jesus – A Not So Secret PLOT! (Sermon Audio)
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Following Jesus – A Not So Secret PLOT! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 10, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: A Not So Secret Plot!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 26:1-13

 

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,  ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’”
Matthew 26:1-2 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  While the religious leaders sought to secretly discredit Jesus, He chose to reveal a not so secret . . .

  • Promise:  Matthew 26:1-5

    • While the religious leaders were plotting to kill Jesus, He makes it known that the thing they wanted to do in secret was actually a not so secret promise from His Father to mankind.  The promise given to Adam and Eve in the garden, and to God’s people throughout the Old Testament times, was one of death being turned into life.  It is in this promise that Jesus declares He is headed to Jerusalem to become the ultimate Passover Lamb who would be crucified as the sin payment for all mankind. 

  • Love:  Matthew 26:6-7

    • While the religious leaders were plotting a scheme of hatred towards Jesus, He is shown a not so secret love as a woman approaches Him to anoint Him with a very valuable perfume.  This not so secret love is not only seen in the actions of this woman, but also displayed by Jesus as He visits in the home of Simon the leper . . . one of the untouchables who had evidently been touched by the love of Jesus.  It is in the love that we find the example to love one another just as we are loved by Jesus.

  • Observation:  Matthew 26:8-10

    • While the disciples had an observation of greed and jealousy, Jesus declares a not so secret observation which revealed the hearts of all involved.  The observations we make out of our human flesh and mind will always be clouded by self while the observations God desires to lead us to will always involve an examination of the heart.

  • Truth:  Matthew 26:11-13

    • The disciples and religious leaders were influenced by a lie even as the not so secret truth stood before them.  Jesus prayed that we would be sanctified, or set apart for His use, by the truth.  As He prays to His Father, Jesus amplifies that the truth which will sanctify us is the truth of God’s Word — a truth which became flesh and dwelt among us as the Holy One of God.

 

Today, how will you share in this not so secret PLOT?

Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Humility! (8/8/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Humility! (8/8/25)

This is the audio from the August 8, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide will focus on the instruction of Jesus for us to keep watch.  As Jesus taught during the week leading up to His crucifixion, He spent time instructing His followers to keep watch.  His teaching found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew is a good reminder for all of us to live life keeping watch.  When we learn to watch, we often find ourselves learning to also wait as we long for the very thing we don’t yet see.  Pray for a heart, mind, and spirit that keep watch and are not distracted by the noise of the world.  Pray that you would be an active participant in keeping watch rather than a passive bystander to what goes on around you.  Pray for godly patience as your watching for the return of Christ requires you to wait.  Pray that keeping watch would help you to be found ready when Christ returns.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’”
Matthew 25:37 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the things He would have you see.  Pray that your deeds of compassion would be done with humility.  Pray for a humility which serves others with no expectation of recognition.  Pray that you would love others as an expression of your love for Christ.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Compassion! (8/7/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Compassion! (8/7/25)

This is the audio from the August 7, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide will focus on the instruction of Jesus for us to keep watch.  As Jesus taught during the week leading up to His crucifixion, He spent time instructing His followers to keep watch.  His teaching found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew is a good reminder for all of us to live life keeping watch.  When we learn to watch, we often find ourselves learning to also wait as we long for the very thing we don’t yet see.  Pray for a heart, mind, and spirit that keep watch and are not distracted by the noise of the world.  Pray that you would be an active participant in keeping watch rather than a passive bystander to what goes on around you.  Pray for godly patience as your watching for the return of Christ requires you to wait.  Pray that keeping watch would help you to be found ready when Christ returns.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
Matthew 25:35 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the things He would have you see.  Pray that your watching for the return of  Christ would be done with an eye toward the needs of others.  Pray about how you can express compassion for others in all that you do.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Trust! (8/6/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Trust! (8/6/25)

This is the audio from the August 6, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide will focus on the instruction of Jesus for us to keep watch.  As Jesus taught during the week leading up to His crucifixion, He spent time instructing His followers to keep watch.  His teaching found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew is a good reminder for all of us to live life keeping watch.  When we learn to watch, we often find ourselves learning to also wait as we long for the very thing we don’t yet see.  Pray for a heart, mind, and spirit that keep watch and are not distracted by the noise of the world.  Pray that you would be an active participant in keeping watch rather than a passive bystander to what goes on around you.  Pray for godly patience as your watching for the return of Christ requires you to wait.  Pray that keeping watch would help you to be found ready when Christ returns.

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”
Matthew 25:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the things He would have you see.  Pray about how you are using the things entrusted to you by God as you watch for the return of Christ.  Pray that you would be a trusted servant of God as you faithfully use the gifts He has placed in your life.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom