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Encouragement and Prayer: Finish With Joy! (09/12/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Finish With Joy! (09/12/22)

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This is the audio from the September 12, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”
Revelation 3:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on having the courage to finish well!  Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of counting the costs of following Him so that we would complete the journey of life with Him.  While starting is important, beginning without finishing will accomplish very little.  Sometimes the finishing can be about us staying with a task without giving up, but often it has more to do with us staying connected to God so that He can finish His work in us.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see any areas of life where He would consider your deeds to be incomplete.  Pray that you would count the costs of being a disciple and ask for God’s help to complete your journey with Christ.  Pray that God’s Spirit would continually make you complete as you serve God and people.  Pray that you would be strengthened, and that God would use you to help strengthen others, so that the body of Christ would be made more complete because of your presence.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:11 (NIV)

Pray that you would follow Jesus in a way that His teachings would fill you with a joy that is complete.  Pray that you would hold fast to the teachings of Jesus in order to share them with others so that their joy would also be made complete.

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

In prayer,
Tom

The Courage to Finish WELL! (Sermon Audio)
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The Courage to Finish WELL! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the September 11, 2022 sermon, “The Courage to Finish Well!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 23 & 24, 2 Timothy 3:10 – 4:8

When it comes to living out a time for courage, how you finish is of utmost importance.  God promises the crown of life to those who persevere and are faithful to the end.  When we examine the life of Joshua, we learn to live with the courage to finish . . .

  • Wisely.  Joshua 23:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:10-11
    • Finishing well requires a recognition of both how we got to where we are and how we will get to where we are going.  Joshua showed great wisdom in making God the hero of the story of the nation of Israel and their entrance to the promised land.  When we accept the fear of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom, we are able to submit to His ways and plans regardless of how comfortable or uncomfortable they make us feel.  Living with the courage to finish wisely means that we will consistently give God the credit for His faithfulness and for anything good in our life.
  • Enlisting.  Joshua 23:6-8, 2 Timothy 3:14-17
    • Finishing well requires that we are actively involved in enlisting others to be full participants in the kingdom of God.  Just as our learning and equipping should be never-ending, our teaching and training of others should continue all of our life.  As Joshua advanced in years, he understood the need to enlist others to not just belong to a nation but to be a people of God.  Living with the courage to finish enlisting means that we will always seek to make God known and lift up Jesus in ways that He can draw others to Himself.
  • Loving.  Joshua 23:9-11, 2 Timothy 4:2-5
    • Finishing well requires that we are loving God and loving others to the very end.  Just as God’s love for us calls us into full obedience, our love for others should direct them to a life lived in obedience to God.  Joshua’s love for God and for the people of Israel directed that he be honest with the people in regard to what would happen if they obeyed God and what would happen if they disobeyed.  Living with the courage to finish loving means that we will love people enough to be honest about their real need for Jesus.
  • a Legacy.  Joshua 24:15-16, 2 Timothy 4:6-8
    • Finishing well not only requires that we leave a godly legacy for others to follow, it creates that legacy.  The Bible tells us that the people of Israel obeyed God throughout the lifetime of Joshua and throughout the lifetime of those who had been taught by Joshua.  The legacy of instruction and of life left by Joshua was incredible.  Living with the courage to finish a legacy means that we pass along to others all that we have received from God.

Today, how will you prepare to finish WELL?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pure Motives! (09/09/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pure Motives! (09/09/22)

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This is the audio from the September 9, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on spending some time with God examining our motives.  God’s desire is that we would do everything with pure and right motives.  When we allow God’s Spirit and His Word to align our motives with His will, we are able to find a contagious joy in serving God.

“For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.”
1 Thessalonians 2:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to be honest with yourself as you examine why you do things.  Pray that you would live with honest in all of your interactions with others so that your motives are not purposefully hidden.  Pray that you would always speak and act with pure motives that look our for the good of others.  Pray that your reputation would be one of honesty.

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: Overcoming Motives! (09/08/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Overcoming Motives! (09/08/22)

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This is the audio from the September 8, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on spending some time with God examining our motives.  God’s desire is that we would do everything with pure and right motives.  When we allow God’s Spirit and His Word to align our motives with His will, we are able to find a contagious joy in serving God.

“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
Philippians 1:18 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to be honest with yourself as you examine why you do things.  Pray that you would be mindful to the work of God taking place even when motives are not what they should be.  Pray for the ability to rejoice over the work of God being accomplished even when it is motivated by someone’s evil intent.

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: Exposed Motives! (09/07/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Exposed Motives! (09/07/22)

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This is the audio from the September 7, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on spending some time with God examining our motives.  God’s desire is that we would do everything with pure and right motives.  When we allow God’s Spirit and His Word to align our motives with His will, we are able to find a contagious joy in serving God.

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.”
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to be honest with yourself as you examine why you do things.  Pray for the wisdom to examine your own motives and let God deal with the motives of others.  Pray that you would have nothing to be ashamed of when the Lord exposes the motives of your heart.

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

In prayer,
Tom

What Do You SAY! (Sermon Audio)
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What Do You SAY! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the September 4, 2022 sermon, “What Do You SAY?”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 8:22-37

When we encounter Jesus, our life ought to not only be different but it should also speak of Him to the world.  As you consider your relationship with Jesus, what does your life . . .

  • See.  Mark 8:22-26
    • What do you see God doing in your life?  How clear is it to you and to others?  As Jesus brought sight to a blind man in the text, it seemed to have required a further connection with Jesus to bring complete clarity.  Sometimes we are living life with a somewhat clouded view of spiritual things simply because we have not maintained the necessary connection with Jesus.  We can easily become satisfied with a casual relationship that doesn’t produce what God desires for us to see.  We have something real to say to the world when we use our connection with Jesus to help us see His work in our life.
  • Acknowledge.  Mark 8:27-30
    • Many people during the days Jesus was on earth thought good things about Him but failed to acknowledge who He really was.  When we talk about Jesus in generic terms that may be positive but fall short of Him being the Son of God, we create confusion and uncertainty in our own mind as well as in the sight of others.  We have something real to say to the world when we faithfully acknowledge Jesus as the Christ who came to save people from their sins.
  • Yield.  Mark 8:31-37
    • When I think of the work yield, I think of both the idea of submitting to someone else and of producing a good crop.  God makes it clear that we must deny our self in a way that fully yields to Him if we want to be His disciple.  It is only through this type of yielding that he produces within us a crop of faithfulness which yields a harvest of righteousness.  We have something real to say to the world when our life is fully yielded to Christ and is yielding a bountiful crop of the fruit of the Spirit.

Today, what will you SAY with your word and with your life?

Encouragement and Prayer: Weighed Motives! (09/06/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Weighed Motives! (09/06/22)

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This is the audio from the September 6, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on spending some time with God examining our motives.  God’s desire is that we would do everything with pure and right motives.  When we allow God’s Spirit and His Word to align our motives with His will, we are able to find a contagious joy in serving God.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you to be honest with yourself as you examine why you do things.  Pray that God would test your heart so you could see any changes that need to be made.  Pray for the courage to trust God as you seek His guidance in realigning your motives.  Pray for the humility to admit when your motives have been self-serving and out of line with God’s will.  Pray that God would be honored and glorified through your life even in the midst of any changes of motive you need to make.

“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”
Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)

Pray that you would trust God to weigh your motives against His standards regardless of how right you believe them to be.  Pray that you would accept God’s ways as you find them to be more noble than your own.  Pray for a humility that allows you to change when your ways are found wanting.

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: Belonging To God! (09/02/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Belonging To God! (09/02/22)

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This is the audio from the September 2, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a previous prayer focus on having a place where we belong.  Most of us have times in our life when we struggle with feelings of not fitting in or knowing where we belong.  The enemy is good at creating division and feelings of exclusion, but God has a lot to say about where we belong as His children.  To all who feel pushed aside and excluded by those who feel they are more important, Jesus calls us to come to Him and know that we belong in His kingdom.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, pray that your sense of belonging would be restored and refreshed as you approach God with the heart and faith of a child.  Pray that you would declare the praises of God as you live as one who has been chosen to belong to Him.  Pray that the people around you would hear from you how belonging to God has transformed your life.

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

In prayer,
Tom