Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Salvation! (08/23/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Salvation! (08/23/22)

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This is the audio from the August 23, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on claiming some of the promises of God.  Promises in the Bible can be difficult for many people to grasp.  Sometimes we tend to define the promise according to our understanding and what we want.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.

“May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:41 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would know the unfailing love of God that gives the promise of salvation that is based on His goodness.  Pray about how God would have you love others in a way that reflects His love.  Pray that you would share with others about the salvation God has brought to you as you live for Him.

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: Promised Peace! (08/22/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Promised Peace! (08/22/22)

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This is the audio from the August 22, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on claiming some of the promises of God.  Promises in the Bible can be difficult for many people to grasp.  Sometimes we tend to define the promise according to our understanding and what we want.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises, especially when it takes longer for them to be fulfilled than what you would like.  Pray for the heart, mind, and eyes to see how God has not only extended His promises to you, but calls you to share in extending His promises to others.

“I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints — but let them not return to folly.”
Psalm 85:8 (NIV)

Pray that you would listen to God and find a peace in Him that the world cannot take away.  Pray that you would hold on to God’s promise of peace in the midst of trouble.  Pray that you would share God’s peace with others as you fully reject a life built on folly.

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 Claim God’s Promises! (Sermon Audio)

The Courage To Claim God’s Promises! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 21, 2022 sermon, “The Courage To Claim God’s Promises: The Time Is NOW!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 13 – 19, 2 Peter 1:3-8

Even when enemies are defeated through the power of Christ in us, there is still a time for us to claim the promises of God.  That time is . . .

  • Necessary.  Joshua 18:1-3, 2 Peter 1:3-4
    • Even after the enemies of Israel were defeated, there was still a need, a necessity, for the people to go out and claim the land God had promised them.  In a similar fashion, while the spiritual enemy has been defeated by Jesus, we still must claim His eternal promises as our own.  He has given us everything we need for a life of godliness through His great promises but we are still left with a choice regarding how we respond to those promises.  We live with the courage to claim God’s promises when we realize how necessary He is to all that is good in life.
  • Obedient.  Joshua 18:8-9, 2 Peter 1:5-7
    • When Joshua addresses the people of Israel after the battles had been won, it appears to me that the people were sitting back and waiting for God to simply hand them what He had promised without any effort of obedience on their part.  It is through obedience to God and the instructions He gave through Joshua that the people find there is still work to be done by them in receiving what God had promised.  When it comes to us, God says that His precious promises produce their work in us when our obedience causes the spiritual growth in increasing measure.  We live with the courage to claim God’s promises when we respond in obedience to all of His instructions.
  • Worth It.  Joshua 19:51, 2 Peter 1:8
    • After the lengthy battles and the understanding of what it looks like to claim God’s promises, the people of Israel eventually received what they had longed for and each tribe had a place of their own within the promised land.  I suspect that they, like us, had times when they wondered if all they were doing was worth it . . . and they finally received the answer that yes, it was.  When we claim the promises that are actually of God from His Word rather than the ones we make up on our own, we can be confident that the result will be worth it.  We live with the courage to claim God’s promises when we look to the future and know it is worth it.

Today, will you claim the promises of God?

Encouragement and Prayer: Victory Over Death! (08/19/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Victory Over Death! (08/19/22)

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This is the audio from the August 19, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on not just the eternal victory we have in Christ, but how we ought to live victorious lives each day.  Yes, there are losses that may be noticeable but they don’t have to define us.  Loss of people.  Loss of influence.  Loss of finances.  Loss of freedoms.  Loss of peace.  Loss of joy.  The list could go on, but the point is that when we focus on the losses, we tend to forget that God has already declared us victorious and calls us to live like victors!

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)

Pray that you would live a life that reflects your knowledge that the power of death has been defeated.  Pray that you would be able to grieve as one with great hope, knowing that the victory over death has been won by 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: Victory For Justice! (08/18/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Victory For Justice! (08/18/22)

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This is the audio from the August 18, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on not just the eternal victory we have in Christ, but how we ought to live victorious lives each day.  Yes, there are losses that may be noticeable but they don’t have to define us.  Loss of people.  Loss of influence.  Loss of finances.  Loss of freedoms.  Loss of peace.  Loss of joy.  The list could go on, but the point is that when we focus on the losses, we tend to forget that God has already declared us victorious and calls us to live like victors!

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.  In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:20-21 (NIV)

Pray that your hope for justice that prevails would rest fully in Jesus.  Pray that your life would reflect the heart of Jesus as you seek victory for justice.  Pray for godly wisdom in doing your part to make things right when you have been wrong.

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: Victory By the Lord! (08/17/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Victory By the Lord! (08/17/22)

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This is the audio from the August 17, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on not just the eternal victory we have in Christ, but how we ought to live victorious lives each day.  Yes, there are losses that may be noticeable but they don’t have to define us.  Loss of people.  Loss of influence.  Loss of finances.  Loss of freedoms.  Loss of peace.  Loss of joy.  The list could go on, but the point is that when we focus on the losses, we tend to forget that God has already declared us victorious and calls us to live like victors!

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.”
Proverbs 21:31 (NIV)

Pray that you would live with an understanding of where true victory comes from.  Pray that your preparations for battle would always understand that it is the Lord who will be able to give victory.  Pray that you would help others know about the God who gives victory.

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: Victory Through Wise Counsel! (08/16/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Victory Through Wise Counsel! (08/16/22)

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This is the audio from the August 16, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on not just the eternal victory we have in Christ, but how we ought to live victorious lives each day.  Yes, there are losses that may be noticeable but they don’t have to define us.  Loss of people.  Loss of influence.  Loss of finances.  Loss of freedoms.  Loss of peace.  Loss of joy.  The list could go on, but the point is that when we focus on the losses, we tend to forget that God has already declared us victorious and calls us to live like victors!

“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.”
Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)

Pray that you would live victoriously because of the quality of counsel you surround yourself with.  Pray that you would always seek advice from God first and be sure your human advisers give godly advice.  Pray that the counsel you give others would always be based on 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: Victory For the Faithful! (08/15/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Victory For the Faithful! (08/15/22)

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This is the audio from the August 15, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on not just the eternal victory we have in Christ, but how we ought to live victorious lives each day.  Yes, there are losses that may be noticeable but they don’t have to define us.  Loss of people.  Loss of influence.  Loss of finances.  Loss of freedoms.  Loss of peace.  Loss of joy.  The list could go on, but the point is that when we focus on the losses, we tend to forget that God has already declared us victorious and calls us to live like victors!  As you pray, ask God to help you always remember the victory you have in Christ.

“He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
Proverbs 2:7-8 (NIV)

Pray that you would cling to the victory that awaits those who walk in blameless ways.  Pray that God would guard your path as you walk in faithfulness to Him.

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

In prayer,
Tom