God’s Word

Encouragement and Prayer: Act Wisely! (11/08/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Act Wisely! (11/08/23)

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

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about how God would have us to act.  While it can be relatively easy to claim devotion to God, our actions reveal who we really serve.  Proverbs tells us that “even a child is known by their actions”.  As God’s child, our actions ought to reflect His nature more than our own flesh.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”
Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you accurately evaluate your actions.  Pray for a humility that requests wisdom from God so that you would know how to act among unbelievers.  Pray that you would not miss the opportunities which exist to represent Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see the wisdom of  God in the way you live.

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: Act Justly! (11/07/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Act Justly! (11/07/23)

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

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about how God would have us to act.  While it can be relatively easy to claim devotion to God, our actions reveal who we really serve.  Proverbs tells us that “even a child is known by their actions”.  As God’s child, our actions ought to reflect His nature more than our own flesh.

“And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you accurately evaluate your actions.  Pray that you would know what is just and right.  Pray for a desire to do what God wants.  Pray for an understanding of justice done God’s way.  Pray for wisdom and courage to act justly in a way that reflects God’s nature.

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: Act Generously! (11/06/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Act Generously! (11/06/23)

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

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about how God would have us to act.  While it can be relatively easy to claim devotion to God, our actions reveal who we really serve.  Proverbs tells us that “even a child is known by their actions”.  As God’s child, our actions ought to reflect His nature more than our own flesh.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you accurately evaluate your actions.  Pray that you would learn what pleases God and then do it.  Pray that you would not only have a greater understanding of your actions, but would have purity in the motives behind your actions.  Pray for the courage to live by faith in a way that can be seen through what you do.  Pray that you would make the most of each moment God gives you.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”
Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)

Pray that your eyes would be opened to the needs of those around you.  Pray for wisdom to understand the good that is necessary in every situation.  Pray for a spirit of generosity to guide your responses to the needs of the people around you.

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: A Time To ACT! (Sermon Audio)
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Good News: A Time To ACT! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the November 5, 2023 sermon, “Good News: A Time To ACT”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 16

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (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.  As Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of God, we find Him telling some stories that may appear to be random.  Stories of a shrewd or unjust manager, of choosing a master, of God’s kingdom, of adultery, and of a beggar and rich man.  I believe a closer look at this chapter reveals a common thread of being ready for when this life ends.  Because we don’t know when our time on earth will be over, now is a time to . . .

  • Accumulate: — (Luke 16:9-12, Matthew 6:19-21)

    • I suspect some people find it a bit strange for me to start a message stating that a time to act is a time to accumulate.  I think it sounds strange because our first thoughts often go to money and stuff when we think about accumulating.  Luke 16 opens with Jesus telling a story that can seem very confusing because it sounds like He is condoning dishonesty when He is actually trying to teach us that we ought to use our Master’s resources to accumulate people who will spend eternity with us in heaven.  Worldly wisdom says to use whatever we can to gain an advantage here on earth but godly wisdom says to use all our resources to accumulate a family of believers.  When we realize that now is the time to act, we begin to understand that now is the time to accumulate treasure in heaven . . . the only treasure we can take with us — people.

  • Change: — (Luke 16:14-17, Matthew 18:3-4)

    • As the religious leaders began to sneer at Jesus because of His teachings regarding money and worldly possessions, He confronts them about the condition of their hearts.  He talks about the work of John in calling people to repentance and then His work in proclaiming the kingdom of God.  Rather than respond to the call to change, the religious leaders became the barrier that many were pushing through in order to enter God’s kingdom.  This change Jesus calls us to is a change of heart, mind, and action such that we become as little children in our in how we live out our trust and faith in Him.  When we realize that now is the time to act, we begin to accept that now is the time to change to become the child of God He calls us to be.

  • Teach: — (Luke 16:27-31, Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

    • In the final illustration of this continuing story being told by Jesus, we find a beggar dying and finding himself carried to the presence of Abraham while a rich man died and was taken to a place of torment.  When it became clear that nothing could be done for the rich man after he had died, he had one request that someone would go back and warn his brothers.  The rich man is told clearly that God’s Word is all that would be given and that it was enough.  Our responsibility today is to teach God’s Word as the message of salvation to all people.  This moment in time is what we have with no guarantee of the next.  When we realize that now is the time to act, we must understand the urgency of today being the day of salvation as we teach the good news of Jesus everywhere we go.

Today, how will you ACT?

Encouragement and Prayer: Find What Pleases the Lord! (11/03/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Find What Pleases the Lord! (11/03/23)

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This is the audio from the November 3, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about finding some things which at times appear lost . . . either lost to us or at least very difficult to find.  Being found in Christ completes us with an ongoing process of growth which helps us not only notice what is lost, but gives us direction in finding it.  When we seek the things of God, we ought to expect to find the things He would want to see in us.    What we find is usually determined in part by what we look for and what we look for is often based on what we want to find.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to direct you in the search for what He would have you find.  Pray that you would find what pleases the Lord, and then do it.  Pray that your life would please the Lord as the Spirit produces His fruit in you.

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: Find a Place of Prayer! (11/02/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Find a Place of Prayer! (11/02/23)

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This is the audio from the November 2, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about finding some things which at times appear lost . . . either lost to us or at least very difficult to find.  Being found in Christ completes us with an ongoing process of growth which helps us not only notice what is lost, but gives us direction in finding it.  When we seek the things of God, we ought to expect to find the things He would want to see in us.    What we find is usually determined in part by what we look for and what we look for is often based on what we want to find.

“On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”
Acts 16:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to direct you in the search for what He would have you find.  Ask God to help you seek out places of prayer that allow for intimate conversations with God.  Pray that you would make prayer a priority as you find that everywhere can be a place of prayer.

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: Find Your Brother! (11/01/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Find Your Brother! (11/01/23)

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This is the audio from the November 1, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about finding some things which at times appear lost . . . either lost to us or at least very difficult to find.  Being found in Christ completes us with an ongoing process of growth which helps us not only notice what is lost, but gives us direction in finding it.  When we seek the things of God, we ought to expect to find the things He would want to see in us.    What we find is usually determined in part by what we look for and what we look for is often based on what we want to find.

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.”
John 1:41-42 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to direct you in the search for what He would have you find.  Pray that your daily encounters with Christ would lead you to find the people around you who need to know Him.  Pray that the people you find would become brothers and sisters in Christ as you lead them to Jesus.

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: Find Soul Rest! (10/31/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Find Soul Rest! (10/31/23)

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This is the audio from the October 31, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will have us praying about finding some things which at times appear lost . . . either lost to us or at least very difficult to find.  Being found in Christ completes us with an ongoing process of growth which helps us not only notice what is lost, but gives us direction in finding it.  When we seek the things of God, we ought to expect to find the things He would want to see in us.    What we find is usually determined in part by what we look for and what we look for is often based on what we want to find.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to direct you in the search for what He would have you find.  Pray that you would learn from Jesus when you find yourself in need of rest for your soul.  Pray that you would know the gentleness and humility that leads to the rest you can find in Jesus.  Pray for the courage to help others find rest in Jesus when their soul is weary.

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

In prayer,
Tom