Encouragement and Prayer: Serving One Another! (1/24/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Serving One Another! (1/24/23)

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This is the audio from the January 24, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
Mark 10:43-44 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on the immeasurably more God wants to do through our serving.  God makes it clear in His Word that we serve Him when we serve people.  While the world often defines greatness based on power and who you have serving you, God says that to be great you must become servant of all.  Pray for a spirit of humility to guide you as you serve people wherever you are.  Pray that God’s love would be seen and felt through you as you serve.  Pray that your commitment to serving would be an example for others.  Pray about how God would use your serving to teach and train others to join in a lifestyle that serves.  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.

“You 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)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only see opportunities to serve, but to give you the courage to actually serve.  Pray that you would look for opportunities to use you freedom to serve others rather than yourself.  Pray for the compassion needed to serve one another even when you think you are free not to.

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: Serving With Power! (1/23/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Serving With Power! (1/23/23)

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This is the audio from the January 23, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
Mark 10:43-44 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on the immeasurably more God wants to do through our serving.  God makes it clear in His Word that we serve Him when we serve people.  While the world often defines greatness based on power and who you have serving you, God says that to be great you must become servant of all.  Pray for a spirit of humility to guide you as you serve people wherever you are.  Pray that God’s love would be seen and felt through you as you serve.  Pray that your commitment to serving would be an example for others.  Pray about how God would use your serving to teach and train others to join in a lifestyle that serves.  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.

“For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.”
2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only see opportunities to serve, but to give you the courage to actually serve.  Pray for the courage to serve in God’s power even when you feel weak.  Pray that your eyes would be opened to how God desires to show His power through your weaknesses.

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: Serving In the Spirit! (1/22/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Serving In the Spirit! (1/22/23)

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This is the audio from the January 22, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
Mark 10:43-44 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on the immeasurably more God wants to do through our serving.  God makes it clear in His Word that we serve Him when we serve people.  While the world often defines greatness based on power and who you have serving you, God says that to be great you must become servant of all.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only see opportunities to serve, but to give you the courage to actually serve.  Pray for a spirit of humility to guide you as you serve people wherever you are.  Pray that God’s love would be seen and felt through you as you serve.  Pray that your commitment to serving would be an example for others.  Pray about how God would use your serving to teach and train others to join in a lifestyle that serves.  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.

“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
Romans 7:6 (NIV)

Pray that you would know the freedom in Christ that enables you to serve in the way of the Spirit.  Pray that each believer would experience the freedom found by serving in the Spirit.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Immeasurably More: SERVE! (Sermon Audio)
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Immeasurably More: SERVE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the January 21, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More: SERVE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11, Galatians 5:13-15

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

This morning’s message continued a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  In the first message of this series we considered what it looks like to experience immeasurably more in our prayer life.  Last week we addressed the immeasurably more love that God has for us and expects us to share with others.  This led us to today’s topic of serving in immeasurably more ways because of what we experience through our increased prayers and love.  When we communicate with God through prayer and put His love into practice in our daily life, our appropriate response is to grow in the way we . . .

  • Share: — Romans 12:13, 1 Timothy 6:18

    • We serve others when we choose to share with them according to their need.  I suspect that the most difficult thing for anyone to share is whatever it is that they value the most.  Many cringe at the topic of sharing because they equate it with someone wanting them to give away some of their money.  While Biblical sharing can, and often does, include our financial resources, the responsibility to share goes well beyond that.  In fact, Paul says that the reason Christians could share financially beyond what looked possible was because they had first given themselves to God.  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us to practice when we share of our finances, our time, our ability, and our self.

  • Equip: —  2 Timothy 3:16-17

    • While we may be reluctant at times to share of our finances, many times people relent in doing so because it is easier than being involved in equipping people for the immeasurably more God desires to do in and through them.  And our reluctance to equip others can often be based in our not doing the work necessary for us to be equipped.  God says that His Word is designed to do its work in the lives of people in such a way that we become equipped for every good work.  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us to practice when we grow in being equipped to equip others.

  • Rebuke/Repent: — Luke 17:3, Romans 2:4

    • Rebuke and repent is a combination of actions that we tend to like one side of more so than the other, but often would prefer to avoid both.  The serving that God desires for us to do will always call for us to be made right with one another and with God.  The only way that happens consistently is when we allow the wrong to be pointed out (rebuke) and then deal with it appropriately (repent).  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us when we learn the godly practice of rebuking and repenting.

  • Visit: — Matthew 25:34-40

    • I suppose growing in the way we visit could be a subset of sharing as it involves the sharing of our time and of our self.  When Jesus tells a story regarding the return of the Son of Man (Himself), He applauds and welcomes a group that had given of themselves to serve Him in the practical ways of feeding, clothing, caring, and visiting.  The ironic part is none of the ones who had done so (and none of the ones who didn’t) could think of any time they had seen Jesus in any of those situations, let alone responded to it.  The answer of the King is that we do those things to Him when we do them for others, even for “the least of these”.  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us when we learn the practical ways we can visit those who need someone to care.

  • Encourage — Hebrews 10:25

    • If you’ve reached this point and you are thinking sharing, equipping, rebuking/repenting, and visiting are difficult, then you should understand the necessity of encouragement as part of serving.  God says that we ought to be deliberate in meeting together for a variety of reasons, but one of those important reasons is so we can encourage one another.  Serving is difficult and learning to serve immeasurably more simply increases the difficulty and the temptation to simply not serve.  We put ourselves into position to see God do in us and through us immeasurably more than we can think or ask when we choose to be involved in encouraging others as they encourage us.

Today, how will you SERVE?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Generosity! (1/19/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Generosity! (1/19/23)

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This is the audio from the January 19, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” 
Romans 12:9-14 (NIV)

As we consider the immeasurably more that God wants to do in us and through us, we discover in God a love that is immeasurably more than the love this world offers.  If God’s love abides in us, it is supposed to show in our words and actions so that others will see Jesus through us.  How we live life doesn’t earn us favor with God, but it does reveal our love for God.

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in the way your love for Him is expressed.  Pray for eyes that see the needs of others and for a loving heart that overflows with generosity.  Pray for a sincere awareness of all that God has given you for the purpose of sharing with others.  Pray for God’s help in overcoming all of your excuses that keep you from being hospitable.

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: A Loving Attitude! (1/18/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Attitude! (1/18/23)

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This is the audio from the January 18, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” 
Romans 12:9-14 (NIV)

As we consider the immeasurably more that God wants to do in us and through us, we discover in God a love that is immeasurably more than the love this world offers.  If God’s love abides in us, it is supposed to show in our words and actions so that others will see Jesus through us.  How we live life doesn’t earn us favor with God, but it does reveal our love for God.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in the way your love for Him is expressed.  Pray for a prayerful attitude that helps you to be joyful and patient even when circumstances are less than ideal.  Pray that God would fill you with hope that is seen and shared by the joy others see in you.  Pray for the ability to live with patient endurance as you experience the many afflictions this life brings with it.

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: A Loving Eagerness! (1/17/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Eagerness! (1/17/23)

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This is the audio from the January 17, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” 
Romans 12:9-14 (NIV)

As we consider the immeasurably more that God wants to do in us and through us, we discover in God a love that is immeasurably more than the love this world offers.  If God’s love abides in us, it is supposed to show in our words and actions so that others will see Jesus through us.  How we live life doesn’t earn us favor with God, but it does reveal our love for God.

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:11 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in the way your love for Him is expressed.  Pray for a freshness of spirit that results in an ever-increasing desire to serve God.  Pray that you would be eager to serve, knowing that it is the Lord you are serving.  Pray for a refreshing from God that overcomes the weariness of your flesh when you serve.

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: A Loving Devotion! (1/16/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Loving Devotion! (1/16/23)

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This is the audio from the January 16, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” 
Romans 12:9-14 (NIV)

As we consider the immeasurably more that God wants to do in us and through us, we discover in God a love that is immeasurably more than the love this world offers.  If God’s love abides in us, it is supposed to show in our words and actions so that others will see Jesus through us.  How we live life doesn’t earn us favor with God, but it does reveal our love for God.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in the way your love for Him is expressed.  Pray that you would grow in the way you care about and honor others.  Pray for a love that results in a devotion to others that would put their needs above your own.  Pray for a willingness and practice of honoring others in ways that lift them above yourself.

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

In prayer,
Tom