Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Awareness! (8/5/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Awareness! (8/5/25)

This is the audio from the August 5, 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.

“’No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you.  Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’”
Matthew 25:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the things He would have you see.  Pray that you would live with an awareness of the importance of what you have in Christ.  Pray about how God wants you to hold fast to that which you have, even as you share with others about the coming return of 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 Wisdom! (8/4/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Watch With Wisdom! (8/4/25)

This is the audio from the August 4, 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.

“The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”
Matthew 25:4 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the things He would have you see.  Pray that you would be filled with godly wisdom as you watch for the return of Christ.  Pray that your wisdom would lead you to be prepared as your watching is done in a period of waiting.  Pray that God would help you share with others about the wisdom of preparation.

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 – Keeping Watch! (Sermon Audio)
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Following Jesus – Keeping Watch! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 3, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Keeping Watch!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 25

 

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
Matthew 25:13 (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.  In the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus becomes laser focused on preparing His followers not only for His death, burial, and resurrection, but also for His ascension and eventual return with a need for us to keep . . .

  • Wise:  Matthew 25:1-5

    • Keeping watch requires a wisdom which knows what it is we are watching for.  As Matthew 25 opens with Jesus telling a parable, we find individuals labeled as wise or foolish with the only difference being pointed out is their preparedness, or lack of preparation.  The Bible tells us that wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord.  We keep watch with wisdom when we prepare ourselves at all times by obedience to God’s Word so that we are always ready for the return of Jesus. 

  • Aware:  Matthew 25:6-13

    • Keeping watch requires an awareness of that which is necessary to be declared right with God.  Our preparedness for the return of Jesus is something we can share about with others so that they might also be ready, but it is not something we can do on their behalf.  The wise in our story were aware of both an unknown time period of waiting and an eventual arrival of the bridegroom.  We keep watch with awareness when we hold fast to our faith in Christ with an unwavering grasp that refuses to give it up for anyone or anything.

  • Trustworthy:  Matthew 25:14-30

    • Keeping watch requires that we are trustworthy with all the Master has given to our care.  In Matthew 25, Jesus makes it clear that what is entrusted to each individual will vary according to an ability known by Him.  The evaluation of our trustworthiness is not based on equal results, but rather on faithfulness in using what has been given to us.  We keep watch as one who is trustworthy when we treat with value every good and perfect gift which God has placed in our life, and then we use that gift with faithfulness for the good of God’s kingdom.

  • Compassionate:  Matthew 25:31-36

    • Keeping watch requires a compassionate attitude and practice toward all people in keeping with how we would treat Christ Himself.  As Jesus tells a story depicting the scene which will unfold at the end of this age, He speaks of a separation of people according to how they treated others.  We obviously know from the context of Scripture that we don’t earn salvation through our good deeds toward anyone, however our good deeds do reflect the transformation which God has done in our heart.  We keep watch as one who is compassionate when we both notice and join the suffering of others in ways which share the goodness of God’s presence with them.

  • Humble:  Matthew 25:37-40

    • Keeping watch requires a humility which understands our being able to endure the return of Christ is only possible by His faithfulness.  This is a humility which recognizes that our wisdom, awareness, trustworthiness, and compassion are only good to the extent that they come from God and are used for His purposes.  The people who showed compassion to the hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, or imprisoned and were welcomed into the Master’s happiness had such a humility that they were unaware that they had done anything special for Jesus.  We keep watch as one who is humble when we do what is right with no expectation of recognition simply because it is right.

Today, how will you keep WATCH?

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together For Perfection! (8/1/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together For Perfection! (8/1/25)

This is the audio from the August 1, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:40 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that your life in Christ would follow in the footsteps of those who have lived by faith so that together each would be made perfect.  Pray that your walk of faith would be perfected by those who follow in your footsteps.

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: Growing Together In Unity! (7/31/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together In Unity! (7/31/25)

This is the audio from the July 31, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that you would clothe yourself in the love necessary to grow in unity.  Pray for a heart of love that would bind together all of the good things that Christ has put within you.  Pray that you would grow in the things which promote unity.

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: Growing Together As God’s Dwelling! (7/30/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together As God’s Dwelling! (7/30/25)

This is the audio from the July 30, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that you would see yourself not only as an individual dwelling of God’s Spirit, but also as a part of the larger community of His body.  Pray for eyes which see the household of God being built together with those who are in 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: Growing Together With Joy! (7/29/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together With Joy! (7/29/25)

This is the audio from the July 29, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“By God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”
Romans 15:32 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that you would bring joy to others when you are together.  Pray that you would know the refreshing from God that can come through joining together with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Pray for a growing desire to meet together in ways which share joy.

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: Growing Together In Prayer! (7/28/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together In Prayer! (7/28/25)

This is the audio from the July 28, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
Acts 1:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Ask God to help you give greater value to the practice of praying together.  Pray that you would be faithful in joining in prayer with others, and for others, even when you are not able to be with them in person.

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