Encouragement and Prayer: Tested To Serve! (6/20/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Tested To Serve! (6/20/25)

This is the audio from the June 20, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a topic we looked at earlier this year concerning the various tests we face in life.  Testing, when handled poorly, will often lead us to sin.  When handled correctly, however, those same tests can serve to illuminate our growth in Christ.  As Jesus was led into the desert to face temptation, He did so as one prepared for the test through prayer, fasting, and the Word of God.  Pray that you live life preparing yourself to be ready for the temptations which are common to mankind.  Pray that the testing of your faith would always produce a confidence in the faithfulness of God.  Pray that God would fill you with wisdom to know when to stand against temptation and when to follow the way out which God provides.

“They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.”
1 Timothy 3:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be ready for every test you will face.  Pray that you would prove your faithfulness in the small things on your way to doing greater things for Christ.  Pray that you would use every opportunity to learn and prepare for whatever God would lead you to next.  Pray that you would be faithful in a growing responsibility of service.

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: Tested As Individuals! (6/19/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Tested As Individuals! (6/19/25)

This is the audio from the June 19, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a topic we looked at earlier this year concerning the various tests we face in life.  Testing, when handled poorly, will often lead us to sin.  When handled correctly, however, those same tests can serve to illuminate our growth in Christ.  As Jesus was led into the desert to face temptation, He did so as one prepared for the test through prayer, fasting, and the Word of God.  Pray that you live life preparing yourself to be ready for the temptations which are common to mankind.  Pray that the testing of your faith would always produce a confidence in the faithfulness of God.  Pray that God would fill you with wisdom to know when to stand against temptation and when to follow the way out which God provides.

“Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.”
Galatians 6:4 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be ready for every test you will face.  Pray for clarity in testing your own actions by the standard of God’s presence in your life.  Pray that you would live with confidence in the way you offer the best of yourself to God.  Pray that you would avoid the trap of individual comparisons.

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: Tested In Sincerity! (6/18/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Tested In Sincerity! (6/18/25)

This is the audio from the June 18, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a topic we looked at earlier this year concerning the various tests we face in life.  Testing, when handled poorly, will often lead us to sin.  When handled correctly, however, those same tests can serve to illuminate our growth in Christ.  As Jesus was led into the desert to face temptation, He did so as one prepared for the test through prayer, fasting, and the Word of God.  Pray that you live life preparing yourself to be ready for the temptations which are common to mankind.  Pray that the testing of your faith would always produce a confidence in the faithfulness of God.  Pray that God would fill you with wisdom to know when to stand against temptation and when to follow the way out which God provides.

“I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.”
2 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be ready for every test you will face.  Pray that your response to the needs of others would reflect the sincerity of your love for people.  Pray for an awareness of how your good works done for God are tested not by a comparison of size, but rather by a comparison of desire.

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: Tested For Obedience! (6/17/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Tested For Obedience! (6/17/25)

This is the audio from the June 17, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a topic we looked at earlier this year concerning the various tests we face in life.  Testing, when handled poorly, will often lead us to sin.  When handled correctly, however, those same tests can serve to illuminate our growth in Christ.  As Jesus was led into the desert to face temptation, He did so as one prepared for the test through prayer, fasting, and the Word of God.  Pray that you live life preparing yourself to be ready for the temptations which are common to mankind.  Pray that the testing of your faith would always produce a confidence in the faithfulness of God.  Pray that God would fill you with wisdom to know when to stand against temptation and when to follow the way out which God provides.

“The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.”
2 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be ready for every test you will face.  Pray that you would learn godly obedience when faced with testing of any kind.  Pray that you learn God’s Word for the purpose of knowing how He wants you to live.  Pray that your life of obedience to Christ would be an example to all.

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: Tested By Opposition! (6/16/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Tested By Opposition! (6/16/25)

This is the audio from the June 16, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a topic we looked at earlier this year concerning the various tests we face in life.  Testing, when handled poorly, will often lead us to sin.  When handled correctly, however, those same tests can serve to illuminate our growth in Christ.  As Jesus was led into the desert to face temptation, He did so as one prepared for the test through prayer, fasting, and the Word of God.  Pray that you live life preparing yourself to be ready for the temptations which are common to mankind.  Pray that the testing of your faith would always produce a confidence in the faithfulness of God.  Pray that God would fill you with wisdom to know when to stand against temptation and when to follow the way out which God provides.

“I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.”
Acts 20:19 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be ready for every test you will face.  Pray that your response to those who oppose the message of Christ would always be based out of humility.  Pray that you would learn to serve with greater humility even as your faith is tested by those who disagree with 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

Following Jesus – Understanding the TEST! (Sermon Audio)
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Following Jesus – Understanding the TEST! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the June 15, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Understanding the TEST!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 19

 

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  
1 Corinthians 10:13 (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.  Mathew chapter nineteen opens with a discussion about divorce, but it isn’t really because those asking about it cared . . . the conversation takes place because the Pharisees wanted to test Jesus.  As Jesus interacted with those who would test Him, He taught us how to understand the . . .

  • Trouble:  Matthew 19:1-12

    • Sometimes the testing we face in life is simply designed by the enemy to cause trouble.  Jesus was asked a question about the law and divorce, not because anyone really wanted to know but because they wanted to cause trouble with such a test.  When we understand the tests which are meant to cause trouble, we can choose not to be brought down to that level.  When the tests of life carry the trouble of this world, we can learn from Jesus who addressed their question with both the content of the law and the understanding of mankind’s weakness.  When we understand the trouble contained in our tests, we can take courage because Jesus has overcome. 

  • Example:  Matthew 19:13-15

    • After addressing the trouble trying to be caused by the Pharisees, Jesus turns His attention to the example of little children.  It is the little children around us who can teach us the value of trusting the One who cares for us.  Even when the disciples wanted to chase the children away from Jesus, He calls them to Himself and presents them as the example of what we ought to be.  When we understand the example of childlike faith in the midst of our testing, we find ourselves prepared to receive the blessing which comes from God.

  • Salvation:  Matthew 19:16-22

    • When the tests of life make us question everything we think we know, we reach the place of understanding the source of the salvation we need.  It can be easy for many of us to start to believe we have it all together and our goodness has somehow earned us favor with God.  It is in the testing that we find that real salvation is found in no other way than through Jesus.  When we understand the salvation which God offers through His Son, we realize there are tests which serve to show us our need for a Savior.

  • Truth:  Matthew 19:23-30

    • If you’ve ever opened a statement with the phrase, “Honestly, . . . “, you have a glimpse into the nature of Jesus saying, “Verily”, or “I tell you the truth”.  It’s not that His other statements are not truthful, it is simply Him highlighting the importance of what He’s about to say.  In our text today, we find the importance of humility as Jesus shares the truth of the danger of exalting our self, or somehow giving our self more credit than we deserve for the work God is doing in us and through us.  When we understand the truth, we discover that our definition of greatness is tested against the humility of the One who came to be servant of all.

Today, how will you be prepared to understand the TEST?

Encouragement and Prayer: Encouraged By Meeting Together! (6/14/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Encouraged By Meeting Together! (6/14/25)

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

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“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

This week we look at part two of a two week focus on being encouraged for the purpose of encouraging one another.  The distractions of this world are more than enough to bring discouragement to anyone, so it is important that we keep our eyes focused on the power of God to encourage us so that we can encourage others.  Pray that you would know God as the source of courage in the midst of any and all discouragement.  Pray that you would be open to the encouragement God sends your way through the people around you.  Pray about how God would use you to be a more effective encourager to the people in your life.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be encouraged through your relationship with Him.  Pray that you would always see value in meeting together for encouragement.  Pray that you would find ways to meet with others to be encouraged and to encourage them.

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: Encouraged By Love! (6/13/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Encouraged By Love! (6/13/25)

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

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“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

This week we look at part two of a two week focus on being encouraged for the purpose of encouraging one another.  The distractions of this world are more than enough to bring discouragement to anyone, so it is important that we keep our eyes focused on the power of God to encourage us so that we can encourage others.  Pray that you would know God as the source of courage in the midst of any and all discouragement.  Pray that you would be open to the encouragement God sends your way through the people around you.  Pray about how God would use you to be a more effective encourager to the people in your life.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”
Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be encouraged through your relationship with Him.  Pray that you would know the encouragement that comes from being loved.  Pray that your love for people would be an encouragement to them.  Pray love would bring joy and refreshment to you and to the people around 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