God’s Word

Encouragement and Prayer: Observe God’s Word! (9/21/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Observe God’s Word! (9/21/23)

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This is the audio from the September 21, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some things God would want us to open our eyes to and observe.  As we walk with God, it is important that we ask Him to open our eyes to the work He is doing — and to the work He has for us to do.  As we consider the great cost of being a disciple, we observe that it is not simply a great cost to us but that the greatest cost was paid by God.  It is that recognition that should turn our focus toward Him as we willingly pay the price of surrender in order to receive that which we could never pay for on our own.  When we pray observantly, we learn to take notice of the things around us and we use those visual cues as prayer prompts.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Psalm 119:18 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to see Him.  As you pray, ask God to help you observe the wonder that is found in His Word.  Pray that the wonder of creation would help you to see the wonder of God throughout His word.  Pray that your eyes would be opened in a way that sees God’s law in a whole new light.

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: Observe God’s Messenger! (9/20/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Observe God’s Messenger! (9/20/23)

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This is the audio from the September 20, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some things God would want us to open our eyes to and observe.  As we walk with God, it is important that we ask Him to open our eyes to the work He is doing — and to the work He has for us to do.  As we consider the great cost of being a disciple, we observe that it is not simply a great cost to us but that the greatest cost was paid by God.  It is that recognition that should turn our focus toward Him as we willingly pay the price of surrender in order to receive that which we could never pay for on our own.  When we pray observantly, we learn to take notice of the things around us and we use those visual cues as prayer prompts.

“Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.”
Numbers 22:31 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to see Him.  As you pray, ask God to help you observe and pay attention to the many ways He communicates His message.  Pray that you would respond with appropriate worship to the message of  God’s Word.

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: Observe God’s Provision! (9/19/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Observe God’s Provision! (9/19/23)

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This is the audio from the September 19, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some things God would want us to open our eyes to and observe.  As we walk with God, it is important that we ask Him to open our eyes to the work He is doing — and to the work He has for us to do.  As we consider the great cost of being a disciple, we observe that it is not simply a great cost to us but that the greatest cost was paid by God.  It is that recognition that should turn our focus toward Him as we willingly pay the price of surrender in order to receive that which we could never pay for on our own.  When we pray observantly, we learn to take notice of the things around us and we use those visual cues as prayer prompts.

“Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.”
Genesis 21:19 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to see Him.  As you pray, ask God to help you observe all that He has provided as you acknowledge Him as the source of all good things.  Pray that you would see how you could be the instrument of God’s provision in the lives of others.

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: How Great a COST! (Sermon Audio)
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Good News: How Great a COST! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the September 17, 2023 sermon, “Good News: How Great a COST”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 9:10-36

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (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 we continue our Good News From the Doctor series, it can become easy for us to know Jesus as God to such an extent that we lose sight of the great cost that He willingly paid.  The good news associated with the great cost paid by Jesus during His life here on earth is that it reflects the great value that we have to Him.  Our response ought to be one that understands and lives out a great . . .

  • Compassion: (Luke 9:10-17)

    • After receiving news about the death of John, the desire of Jesus was to be alone with His disciples and His Father.  As they traveled to a place where this could happen, a great crowd followed them.  As Jesus saw the crowd, He was moved with compassion and began to teach about God’s kingdom and heal those who were sick.  His compassion came at a great cost as He chose to delay His solitude in order to share in the sufferings of the multitude.  The good news for us today is that God’s compassion is not only directed toward us, it is meant to be an example for us to follow.  As those who are called by God to consider the cost, we must turn to Him so that we would live with a great compassion.

  • Observation: — (Luke 9:18-21)

    • After the crowds experienced the teaching and healing of Jesus, it was lesson time for the disciples.  As Jesus and His disciples were finally able to withdraw to a private place of prayer, it was time to see what the disciples had observed.  The groundwork was laid by Jesus as He questioned what the disciples had heard about Him from the crowds.  It seemed the crowd had been impressed by the works of Jesus to the extent that they considered He must be a man of God who had died and was now brought back to life.  Jesus then turned the question to a personal level and asked the disciples who they believed that He was.  Peter’s response was to the point when he stated that Jesus was indeed the Christ sent from God.  Jesus confirmed that this was an observation not from human sources but from God’s Spirit.  As those who are called by God to consider the cost, we must turn to Him so that we would have our eyes opened to a great observation.

  • Sacrifice: — (Luke 9:22-27)

    • I suspect that when most of us consider the great cost, our first thoughts go to the subject of sacrifice.  The topic of sacrifice should naturally lead us to the death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, but we also need to consider how great a sacrifice Jesus made simply by coming to earth and living as one of us.  In fact, I believe it is this level of life sacrifice that Jesus calls us to when He says we must take up our cross daily and follow Him.  While many would want to have the courage to lay down their life to save someone else in a life or death situation, when it comes to the day to day sacrifices of time, money, pride, preference, and opinion, we’re not so eager to make that type of sacrifice.  As those who are called by God to consider the cost, we must turn to Him so that we would learn how to deny self and live a life of great sacrifice.

  • Transformation: — (Luke 9:28-36)

    • The purpose of the great cost paid by Jesus is that we would undergo a great transformation.  As Peter, James, and John went up a mountain with Jesus to pray, a great transformation took place where Jesus was transfigured into His heavenly form and met with Moses and Elijah on that mountain top.  The text tells us that the disciples were sleepy but that the incredible transformation became obvious once they were fully awake.  The response of the disciples was a desire to simply stay there on the mountain and bask in the glory that was present.  The response of God, however, was that they needed to recognize the authority of Jesus and listen to Him.  As those who are called by God to consider the cost, we must turn to Him so that we understand the great transformation that comes through our obedience.

Today, how will you live in response to a great COST?

Encouragement and Prayer: Observe Your Need! (9/18/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Observe Your Need! (9/18/23)

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This is the audio from the September 18, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some things God would want us to open our eyes to and observe.  As we walk with God, it is important that we ask Him to open our eyes to the work He is doing — and to the work He has for us to do.  As we consider the great cost of being a disciple, we observe that it is not simply a great cost to us but that the greatest cost was paid by God.  It is that recognition that should turn our focus toward Him as we willingly pay the price of surrender in order to receive that which we could never pay for on our own.  When we pray observantly, we learn to take notice of the things around us and we use those visual cues as prayer prompts.  As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to see Him.  Pray that you would see God more clearly, others more fully, and yourself more accurately.  Pray that you would live with open eyes as you interact with God and with people.  Pray that your open eyes would help you to see others as God sees them — and yourself as God sees you.  Pray that God’s presence would always be noticed by you and through you.

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”
Genesis 3:7 (NIV)

As you pray, ask God to give you clarity in your observation of the great need that is common among people.  Pray that your eyes would be open to your need for a covering that only  God can provide.

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: Enough Grace! (9/15/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Enough Grace! (9/15/23)

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This is the audio from the September 15, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’”
Luke 8:46 (NIV)

When it comes to our interactions with people and the judgments we are tempted to pass upon them, God wants to remind us of both the sufficiency and source of what we have.  God says that “every good and perfect gift comes from above.”  The best and most perfect gift that there is, is our relationship with God.  While there is work that we need to do to maintain that relationship and help it to grow, being in relationship with God is His gift to us.  When we understand the sufficiency of what God has given us through Jesus Christ, we ought to be more willing and eager to share it with others knowing there will always be enough for everyone who would call upon the name of the Lord.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see Him as the source of every good thing in your life.  Pray that you would allow God’s grace to carry you through your areas of weakness.  Pray that God would be seen as powerful as He is displayed through your weaknesses.  Pray that you would live with enough grace to be able to extend it to others.

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: Enough Wisdom! (9/14/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Enough Wisdom! (9/14/23)

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This is the audio from the September 14, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’”
Luke 8:46 (NIV)

When it comes to our interactions with people and the judgments we are tempted to pass upon them, God wants to remind us of both the sufficiency and source of what we have.  God says that “every good and perfect gift comes from above.”  The best and most perfect gift that there is, is our relationship with God.  While there is work that we need to do to maintain that relationship and help it to grow, being in relationship with God is His gift to us.  When we understand the sufficiency of what God has given us through Jesus Christ, we ought to be more willing and eager to share it with others knowing there will always be enough for everyone who would call upon the name of the Lord.

“I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?”
1 Corinthians 6:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see Him as the source of every good thing in your life.  Pray that you would have enough wisdom from God to help the people around you resolve differences.  Pray that you would seek Godly counsel and wisdom when you are in disagreement with others.

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: Enough Resources! (9/13/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Enough Resources! (9/13/23)

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This is the audio from the September 13, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’”
Luke 8:46 (NIV)

When it comes to our interactions with people and the judgments we are tempted to pass upon them, God wants to remind us of both the sufficiency and source of what we have.  God says that “every good and perfect gift comes from above.”  The best and most perfect gift that there is, is our relationship with God.  While there is work that we need to do to maintain that relationship and help it to grow, being in relationship with God is His gift to us.  When we understand the sufficiency of what God has given us through Jesus Christ, we ought to be more willing and eager to share it with others knowing there will always be enough for everyone who would call upon the name of the Lord.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”
Luke 14:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see Him as the source of every good thing in your life.  Pray that you would consider your need for God, and the value He brings to life, when you are deciding if you have enough.  Pray that you would finish your life walking with God because you have found Him to be enough.

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

In prayer,
Tom