God’s promises

Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present from Horizon to Horizon! (10/06/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present from Horizon to Horizon! (10/06/21)

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This is the audio from the October 6, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would know the presence of God in every place that you go.  Pray about how God would have you to share in His presence everywhere you go.  Pray that you would be guided by God’s presence.

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: Ever-Present In Heights or Depths! (10/05/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present In Heights or Depths! (10/05/21)

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This is the audio from the October 5, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Psalm 139:8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would seek God and know His presence in all the high points of your life.  Pray that you would find comfort and encouragement in God’s presence even in the deepest woes of life.  Pray that you would share God’s presence with others wherever they are.

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: Ever-Present In Spirit! (10/04/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Ever-Present In Spirit! (10/04/21)

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This is the audio from the October 4, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.”
Jonah 1:3 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about God’s presence being everywhere — even in those places we go to try to hide from Him.  While God promises to be “an ever-present help in time of need”, there are times we either try to run from God or feel we have somehow escaped His notice and are no longer able to be helped.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with a greater awareness of His presence — both in the times you want to be in His presence and in the times you think you are hidden.  Pray that you would learn to pay attention to God’s presence and find comfort in it.  Pray for greater courage to live life in obedience to God as you acknowledge His presence.  Pray about how you can more effectively represent God’s presence to others.

Ever-Present In Spirit

“Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?”
Psalm 139:7 (NIV)

Pray that you would live with a greater awareness of God’s Spirit dwelling within you.  Pray for the courage to live by the Spirit in ways that help others to know God is ever-present.  Pray that you would experience God’s presence even in the times you attempt to hide from Him.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Experiencing PEACE In the Storms (Sermon Audio)
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Experiencing PEACE In the Storms (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio and outline from the October 3, 2021 sermon, “Experiencing PEACE In the Storms”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 4:35 – 5:20

Life on earth is filled with troubles and “storms” of various kinds.  In fact, Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world.  But He didn’t leave it at that, He promised a peace that only He could give as the One who has overcome this world.  Our text today looked at two very different storms — the external storm the disciples endured while out with Jesus in a boat and an internal storm that a man endured because of demonic activity.  Jesus brought peace to both of these storms and He can help us overcome our storms as in Him we experience . . .

  • Power.  Mark 4:39, Romans 1:16
    • A lack of peace in life is often experienced when we realize we are powerless in whatever our current situation is.  It is through experiencing the power of God in our life that we can not only find peace, but share that peace with others.  When we know the good news of God’s Word as “the power of God unto salvation”, we realize there is more to life than what we experience here on earth.  God’s power to prepare us for eternity should bring with it a peace that comes from knowing we are in His hands through whatever storms we may face.
  • Education.  Mark 4:40, John 14:1
    • As Jesus spent time with His disciples, He was constantly teaching them about Himself, about His Father, and about the kingdom of heaven.  His purpose was that they would learn to trust Him no matter what.  The various types of storms they would go through, including the storm of His trial and crucifixion, would serve to teach them about trusting God in all circumstances.  Even as we pray for God to bring peace to us in the midst of our storms, we ought to also be asking Him to teach us all that we need to know for our faith and trust to grow.  It is through this process of education that we learn to have greater peace with each passing storm.
  • Adjustment.  Mark 5:15, 1 Peter 3:10-12
    • Even when we know we need it, most people seem to find the process of making changes in their life to be an unpleasant task at best.  There are times in life when the storms simply won’t diminish until we are willing to make some adjustments to our thoughts and actions.  It is when we allow God to help us to “be fully clothed and in our right mind” that we find the storm replaced by a peace which surpasses all understanding.  When we use the education of God’s Word to direct the adjustments that need to be made in our thinking, we find adjusted actions soon follow which will both honor God and bring peace to our being.
  • Courage.  Mark 5:19, Matthew 28:19-20
    • One of the purposes of experiencing the peace of God is to bring us to a point of sharing that peace with others.  While it may be comfortable to just hang out with Jesus and bask in our new found peace, His desire is to fill us with the courage needed to tell others about all that God has done in our life.  Jesus gave that instruction to the man set free from demonic activity and He gave it to each of His followers in what we often refer to as the great commission.  Our peace is meant to motivate us to make disciples wherever we go.  We are to overcome our fears and weaknesses and live with the courage of His Spirit helping us to share with others about the peace we have in Christ.
  • Excitement.  Mark 5:20
    • With this peace that God wants us to have comes an excitement that we should not be able to contain.  When people see you living with a spirit of peace even as you experience the storms of life, God has created an opportunity for you to share the excitement that comes from living as a child of God.  Having peace before a storm, during a storm, and after a storm is possible when you realize the storms are always temporary and God’s love endures forever.  Living with this kind of peace ought to invoke a sense of amazement within your own life and in the lives of those that see the way God helps you to handle whatever circumstances come your way.  There is very little as exciting as living with true peace unless it is seeing others come to know that same peace in Christ because of your example.

Today, how do you need to experience God’s PEACE?

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together Through Encouragement! (10/01/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together Through Encouragement! (10/01/21)

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This is the audio from the October 1, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about how God would have us grow together in love as the body of Christ.  With Christ as the head, God’s desire is that we would look to Him as the glue which holds us together both individually and as a church, and equips us to work in ways that helps us to grow together.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you submit to the Lordship of Christ in everything.  Pray that your interactions with people would be an encouragement that builds them up.  Pray that you would know the encouragement that God desires for you to receive and that you would grow together with others as you encourage one another.

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: Growing Together With Speech! (09/30/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together With Speech! (09/30/21)

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This is the audio from the September 30, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about how God would have us grow together in love as the body of Christ.  With Christ as the head, God’s desire is that we would look to Him as the glue which holds us together both individually and as a church, and equips us to work in ways that helps us to grow together.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you submit to the Lordship of Christ in everything.  Pray that you would set a guard on your mouth so that your speech would build up those who listen.  Pray that God would help you to learn what others need so that your words would be helpful in growing together.

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: Growing Together As the Church! (09/29/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together As the Church! (09/29/21)

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This is the audio from the September 29, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“So it is with you.  Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”
1 Corinthians 14:12 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about how God would have us grow together in love as the body of Christ.  With Christ as the head, God’s desire is that we would look to Him as the glue which holds us together both individually and as a church, and equips us to work in ways that helps us to grow together.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you submit to the Lordship of Christ in everything.  Pray that you would use and grow in the gifts God has given you and that your use of them would build up the church.  Pray that your eagerness to know the gifting of God’s Spirit would be matched by a desire to excel in growing together.

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: Growing Together As Neighbors! (09/28/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together As Neighbors! (09/28/21)

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This is the audio from the September 28, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
Romans 15:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will have us praying about how God would have us grow together in love as the body of Christ.  With Christ as the head, God’s desire is that we would look to Him as the glue which holds us together both individually and as a church, and equips us to work in ways that helps us to grow together.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you submit to the Lordship of Christ in everything.  Pray that your growth in Christ would lead you to a greater love of God and of people.  Pray for a greater understanding of the work God has created for you that benefits the whole body.  Pray that love would guide your interactions and relationships with others.  Pray for a growing together in love that would represent Jesus well to all who are watching and listening.  Pray for the humility needed to help others grow and be built up together in love.

Pray that you would serve your neighbors in the name of Jesus in ways that help them to grow.  Pray for the humility needed to see how being considerate of one another helps the body of Christ to grow together in love.  Pray for wisdom in knowing how to do what is good for others.

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

In prayer,
Tom