God’s Word

Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion With Justice and Mercy! (2/8/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion With Justice and Mercy! (2/8/23)

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This is the audio from the February 8, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’”
Zechariah 7:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that your willingness to suffer with those who suffer would lead you to seek true justice for those who have been wronged.  Pray that this same compassion that seeks justice would be filled with great mercy.

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: More Compassion Which Restores! (2/7/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion Which Restores! (2/7/23)

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This is the audio from the February 7, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.”
Isaiah 54:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would know the compassion of God that restores you to Himself.  Pray that you would deepen your compassion in order to restore those whom you may have abandoned.  Pray for a greater desire to see people restored to God.

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: More Compassion Which Brings Life! (2/6/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion Which Brings Life! (2/6/23)

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This is the audio from the February 6, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.

“Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.”
Psalm 119:77 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would allow God’s compassion come to you in a way that brings life.  Pray that your delight in God’s law would lead you to show compassion to others in a way that leads them to the life God offers.

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: More Compassion To Forgive! (2/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: More Compassion To Forgive! (2/5/23)

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This is the audio from the February 5, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with compassion.  Many times we try to substitute pity, instruction, warnings, judgment, or even good deeds for true compassion because we want to help but we don’t want to suffer.  Yet godly compassion means to suffer with those who are suffering so that they may receive the same comfort from us that we have received from God.  There is no greater example of compassion than Jesus coming to earth and suffering alongside mankind so that we may be comforted with the same comfort He received from His Father.  Living with compassion means that we will not only take notice of the suffering that takes place in our world, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our homes; we will join in suffering with those who hurt so that together we can find the comfort God desires for us.  We can learn a lot about the compassion we ought to  have by looking at the compassion God has for us.  As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the sufferings of others.  Pray that you would have the courage to suffer with them — not for the purpose of having a pity party, but in order to find the avenues of comfort that are needed..

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”
Psalm 51:1 (NIV)

Pray that you would live with a greater understanding of the ‘suffering with us” that was required in order for God to forgive our sins.  Pray that your love for God and people would fill you with the compassion necessary to forgive.

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 Compassion: A Time To CARE! (Sermon Audio)
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Immeasurably More Compassion: A Time To CARE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 4, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More Compassion: A Time To CARE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 3:8-17

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Jonah 4:2 (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.  So far we have looked at the immeasurably more that God wants to do in our prayer life, in the way we love, in our serving, and in our giving.  Today we gazed into God’s Word to consider the immeasurably more compassion He has toward us and that He desire for us to have toward others.  Compassion is one of those traits that we are often more comfortable in receiving than giving.  We want someone who is willing to suffer with us — not in the sense of a pity party, but in a way that provides companionship and help.  Not only did Jesus join in the suffering of individuals as He walked this earth, He joined in our suffering as He went to the cross to become payment for our sins.  We reflect the immeasurably more compassion of God when we choose now as a time to . . .

  • Comfort: — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we model the actions of Jesus who entered into this world as “God with us”.  As a people who deserved to be condemned, we should find comfort in a God who came to save.  It is through this comfort that we receive from Christ that we not only are told to comfort others, but we are given the ability to do so.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we find ourselves equipped by God’s Spirit to be instruments of His comfort.

  • Appreciate: — Romans 15:7

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we find the importance of accepting one another in ways that show appreciation and value.  To accept others just as Christ has accepted us doesn’t mean we ignore or overlook sin, but rather we value people for who they are as one created in the image of God and we desire to see the work of God transform each person into the fullness of that image.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we learn to appreciate the people around us in ways that lets them know the great value they have.

  • Restore: — Galatians 6:1-2

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we understand the need for each of us to be restored in every way possible.  God warns us to be careful in this process so that we don’t get caught up in the sins of others, but the reward of seeing a person restored to Christ and to the fellowship of believers is a great thing.  The compassion to restore isn’t an us versus them thing as we all sin and need to experience the full restoration that only God can accomplish.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we live as those who have been restored to restore others.

  • Embrace: — Luke 15:20

    • When we choose to enter into the sufferings of others in order to be with them, we find ways to embrace one another in a manner that brings healing.  The culmination of our learning to be with others in ways that comfort, appreciate, and restore will be an embrace of belonging whether that takes place in the form of a physical hug or something that gives the same result.  When we choose to care for people with immeasurably more compassion, we find ways to embrace them with the love of God that never fails.

Today, how will the compassion God calls you to lead you to CARE?

Encouragement and Prayer: Giving More Grace! (2/2/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Giving More Grace! (2/2/23)

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This is the audio from the February 2, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Acts 20:35 (NIV)

This week’s lifestyle of prayer emphasis will focus on the immeasurably more giving which God calls us to as a reflection of His nature.  Just as the Bible teaches that we know love because God first loved us, we can learn to give because God first gave to us.  Too often we don’t give — not because the need isn’t present, and not even because we don’t have the resources — but simply because we haven’t learned to give.  God’s desire is that we learn to give with the purpose of blessing others and in so doing we discover we too are blessed.  When we follow the example of Jesus we learn to give what we know, we learn to give what we have, and we learn to give what God provides.  Pray that your practice of giving would be a blessing to you, and to others, as you reflect Christ in your giving habits.  Pray that your recognition of God as the provider of all good things would help you learn to give more freely.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”
Proverbs 25:21 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be a learner when it comes to giving.  Pray that you would learn to give grace to others in the measure that God has given it to  you.  Pray that you would understand the power of transformation that comes through the giving and receiving of grace — even to those who are your enemy.

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: Giving More Sound Answers! (2/1/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Giving More Sound Answers! (2/1/23)

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This is the audio from the February 1, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Acts 20:35 (NIV)

This week’s lifestyle of prayer emphasis will focus on the immeasurably more giving which God calls us to as a reflection of His nature.  Just as the Bible teaches that we know love because God first loved us, we can learn to give because God first gave to us.  Too often we don’t give — not because the need isn’t present, and not even because we don’t have the resources — but simply because we haven’t learned to give.  God’s desire is that we learn to give with the purpose of blessing others and in so doing we discover we too are blessed.  When we follow the example of Jesus we learn to give what we know, we learn to give what we have, and we learn to give what God provides.  Pray that your practice of giving would be a blessing to you, and to others, as you reflect Christ in your giving habits.  Pray that your recognition of God as the provider of all good things would help you learn to give more freely.

“Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you?”
Proverbs 22:20-21 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be a learner when it comes to giving.  Pray that you would be a student of God’s Word so you would be able to give sound answers.  Pray that God would help you to discern what is true and reliable as you answer those who seek hope.

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: Giving More Timely! (1/31/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Giving More Timely! (1/31/23)

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This is the audio from the January 31, 2024 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Acts 20:35 (NIV)

This week’s lifestyle of prayer emphasis will focus on the immeasurably more giving which God calls us to as a reflection of His nature.  Just as the Bible teaches that we know love because God first loved us, we can learn to give because God first gave to us.  Too often we don’t give — not because the need isn’t present, and not even because we don’t have the resources — but simply because we haven’t learned to give.  God’s desire is that we learn to give with the purpose of blessing others and in so doing we discover we too are blessed.  When we follow the example of Jesus we learn to give what we know, we learn to give what we have, and we learn to give what God provides.  Pray that your practice of giving would be a blessing to you, and to others, as you reflect Christ in your giving habits.  Pray that your recognition of God as the provider of all good things would help you learn to give more freely.

“Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’– when you now have it with you.”
Proverbs 3:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be a learner when it comes to giving.  Pray that you would learn to recognize the moments of opportunity in giving.  Pray that God would help you do an inventory of your life so you know what you can give now.  Pray that God would help you be honest in the timeliness of your giving.

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

In prayer,
Tom