Encouragement and Prayer: Joy That Produces Generosity! (12/11/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Joy That Produces Generosity! (12/11/23)

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This is the audio from the December 11, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’”
Luke 1:28 (NIV)

As we continue in this Christmas season, I reflect on the joyous news brought to Mary by an angel — not just news of Jesus, but the proclamation that she was highly favored by God!  This week’s prayer focus will be about how we live with the presence of that great joy as we too have been favored with the great news of Jesus. Because of God’s favor, we choose to let the joy of Christ be seen in us each day that we live.  The joy that comes from a relationship with Christ should supersede the circumstances that we face each day.  In fact, one day this week we will pray specifically about considering it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds.  As you pray this week, ask God to reveal His joy in you so that you would reveal His joy to the people around you.  Pray that you would live with a joy produced by God’s Spirit that doesn’t depend on circumstances.  Pray that your joy would be made complete through your obedience to the commands of God.

“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)

Pray that you would have a joy that is not dependent on your possessions.  Pray that the joy you have in Christ would result in great generosity toward others.  Pray that God’s Spirit would fill you ways to be generous even in difficult times.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Good News of Christmas: JOY! (Sermon Audio)
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Good News of Christmas: JOY! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the December 10, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: JOY”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 1:26-56

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’”
Luke 1:28 (NIV)

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we will continue our Good News series with a look at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first two chapters of Luke.  Last week we looked at God announcing the time for the Messiah was at hand as He prepared Zechariah and Elizabeth with a message of a son who would prepare the way for Jesus.  This week we considered the joy woven throughout God’s message to Mary.  After Mary’s encounter with an angel of God, she went to visit her relative, Elizabeth.  Upon Mary’s greeting, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy.  The good news of Christmas is not only about God coming at the right time, as we talked about last week, it is about God bringing joy to the world.  As we consider how Mary come to know true joy, we find that we too can bring joy to the world when we share the good news of . . .

  • Jesus: — (Luke 1:26-33)

    • While we often think of the “good tidings of great joy” being delivered to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, that message of joy first came to Mary as the angel announced to her that she would give birth to a son and give him the name Jesus!  At the heart of real joy is a foundation of Jesus.  The presence of Jesus in our life ought to not only fill us with joy, it ought to spread the light of joy into the lives of all we encounter.  When we live with the good news of joy, we live with Jesus at the center of all we think and do.

  • Overcoming: — (Luke 1:34-37)

    • Sometimes the good news of joy brought to us by God’s Word appears to be both impractical and impossible.  While evidently not filled with the same doubt Zechariah expressed in his response to the angel, Mary’s response was one that revealed an awareness that this promise would not be possible in a normal or natural way.  Living with the joy of the Lord is only possible through the overcoming power of His Spirit within us.  As we gaze into God’s Word and discover how we ought to live in ways that represent Jesus, it becomes apparent that we must overcome our own nature to be used in a way that brings joy to those around us.  When we live with the good news of joy, we live a life that overcomes by the power of the Spirit and the Word.

  • Yielding: — (Luke 1:38)

    • The response of Mary to the angel, and to God, is one of humility and a desire to yield to whatever God wants.  Even with uncertainty as to how God will overcome the impossible, she proclaims her willingness to serve Him not according to her plans or knowledge, but according to His.  It is by living this yielded life that John leaps for joy within the womb of Elizabeth because he recognizes the presence of Jesus within Mary.  When we chose to die to self and allow Christ to live within us through the power of His Spirit, the people around us ought to also be filled with joy because of Christ in us.  When we live with the good news of joy, we live a life yielded fully to the authority of God.

Today, how will you share the good news of JOY?

Encouragement and Prayer: Time for Discipline! (12/8/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Time for Discipline! (12/8/23)

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This is the audio from the December 8, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about recognizing the fullness of time and how we ought to respond to God.  When I think about God acting throughout history at just the right time, it is generally hindsight which makes that clear.  As we enter the Christmas season, we find the arrival of Jesus was not some haphazard event but rather one that had been carefully planned by God to happen at just the right time.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the current times so that you would know what to do.  Pray that you would accept the discipline of  God as you long for the harvest of righteousness and peace that it produces.  Pray that your interactions with others would be marked by the training of God’s discipline.

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: Time to Prepare for Harvest! (12/7/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Time to Prepare for Harvest! (12/7/23)

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This is the audio from the December 7, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about recognizing the fullness of time and how we ought to respond to God.  When I think about God acting throughout history at just the right time, it is generally hindsight which makes that clear.  As we enter the Christmas season, we find the arrival of Jesus was not some haphazard event but rather one that had been carefully planned by God to happen at just the right time.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the current times so that you would know what to do.  Pray that you would know each moment as a time to do good in a way that prepares for the time of harvest.  Pray for a persevering spirit that continues to do good in all circumstances as you trust God to bring about the harvest at the right time.

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: Time to Be Generous! (12/6/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Time to Be Generous! (12/6/23)

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This is the audio from the December 6, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about recognizing the fullness of time and how we ought to respond to God.  When I think about God acting throughout history at just the right time, it is generally hindsight which makes that clear.  As we enter the Christmas season, we find the arrival of Jesus was not some haphazard event but rather one that had been carefully planned by God to happen at just the right time.

“At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.”
2 Corinthians 8:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the current times so that you would know what to do.  Pray that you would have an accurate view of what plenty and need look like from God’s perspective.  Pray that you would know this as a time to be generous and as a time to have your needs met generously.

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: Time to Worship! (12/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Time to Worship! (12/5/23)

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This is the audio from the December 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about recognizing the fullness of time and how we ought to respond to God.  When I think about God acting throughout history at just the right time, it is generally hindsight which makes that clear.  As we enter the Christmas season, we find the arrival of Jesus was not some haphazard event but rather one that had been carefully planned by God to happen at just the right time.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
John 4:23 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the current times so that you would know what to do.  Pray that God would always be at the center of your worship.  Pray that the ways you express to God His worth to you would always come from a heart filled with His truth.

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: Time to Believe! (12/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Time to Believe! (12/4/23)

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This is the audio from the December 4, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about recognizing the fullness of time and how we ought to respond to God.  When I think about God acting throughout history at just the right time, it is generally hindsight which makes that clear.  As we enter the Christmas season, we find the arrival of Jesus was not some haphazard event but rather one that had been carefully planned by God to happen at just the right time.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the current times so that you would know what to do.  Pray for courage to make the most of the time which God has given you.  Pray not only for a general understanding of the times, but also pray each day for a greater awareness of what it is time for that day.  Pray each day for a godly commitment to do the things which need to be done now and for the patience to wait upon the Lord regarding the times He says to wait.  Pray that you would trust God to do all things at the right time.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:15 (NIV)

Pray that you would live with each moment of your life being a time to believe.  Pray that your belief in the good news of Jesus would always lead you to repent.  Pray about how you take the good news to others in a way that they would understand the time is now.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Good News of Christmas: TIME! (Sermon Audio)
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Good News of Christmas: TIME! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the December 3, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: TIME”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 1:1-25

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we will continue our Good News series with a look at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first tow chapters of Luke.  Luke makes it clear that his goal in writing is to set forth an orderly account of the story of Jesus.  In the fullness of time God sent His Son to be the fulfillment of His law and prophecies.  While many had grown tired, and some had even quit looking, Luke records for us the good news that the time had come and that announcement first makes its way to a couple who needed to hear the good news of time!  As we consider the Christmas story, we find the good news of  . . .

  • Trust: — (Luke 1:1-7)

    • When things don’t happen according to our timetable, our doubt can grow to the point where we eventually lose hope in the desired outcome ever taking place.  In our text, Zechariah and Elizabeth lived at a time when people had become skeptical concerning the promised Messiah and they had also lived to an old age without having any children.  While there were likely many claiming God had forgotten them, they remained steadfast in their trust of Him no matter what.  Our trust in God isn’t about experiencing everything we want when we want it, rather it is believing that God knows best and we learn to trust in His plan and timing.  The good news of trust says that I will believe God even when I don’t understand.

  • Incense: — (Luke 1:8-12; Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4))

    • It was a privilege and special responsibility to be chosen as a priest of God to burn incense before the Lord in His temple.  It was in this fullness of time that Zechariah was chosen by God through the casting of lots so the he would carry out the task of going before the altar of the Lord to burn incense.  When you consider the altar of the Lord was a place of sacrifice where the blood of bulls and goats was brought in to temporarily pay the penalty for the people’s sin, the burning of incense by God’s direction was meant to make the offering a sweet aroma before the Lord.  In the book of Revelation we find that the incense being offered to God is the prayers of God’s people.  Even in our text, as Zechariah is burning the incense before the Lord, it is taking place in tandem with the prayers of the people who were outside worshiping God.  The good news of incense says that my prayers carry a sweet aroma before God which is pleasing to Him.

  • Meaning: — (Luke 1:13-17)

    • As Zechariah is fulfilling His responsibility before the Lord, an angel comes and stands before him to announce that his prayers had been heard.  I suspect that if an angel would appear to any one of us announcing that our prayers had been heard, we would want some clarity as to what exactly was meant.  For Zechariah, the first level of meaning to having his prayers heard was that he and Elizabeth would have a son even in their old age.  But I suspect that Zechariah, as one who was considered by God to be upright and blameless, had been praying for much more than a son.  In fact, the angel goes on to say that the meaning of this birth announcement was that this child would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord.  The good news for us is that each of us have meaning and value because we were knit together in our mother’s womb and called into being by God.  The good news of meaning says that God knows what He is doing and He knows when He is doing it so that His work in us and through us always has purpose.

  • Encouragement: — (Luke 1:18-25)

    • Because God operates on a timetable that we generally don’t understand, we must rely on Him for the encouragement necessary to continually live with the faith He desires to find in us.  Zechariah had doubts and was made to be unable to speak as a sign to him that God was indeed in the midst of this.  While the silence may not sound very encouraging to us, when Elizabeth became pregnant the silence of Zechariah was a continual reminder that God was in the midst of this.  When we live with a focus on what God is doing, it is our sharing of that with others that encourages both us and them.  Especially when the working of God comes at a time we least expect, we discover His faithfulness in helping our trust and obedience be an encouragement to others.  The good news of encouragement is that God desires to use each one of us in ways that not only build us up individually, but also in ways that builds up and encourages the body of Christ.

Today, what will you do with the good news of TIME?