Encouragement and Prayer: A Perfect Way! (07/25/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Perfect Way! (07/25/22)

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This is the audio from the July 25, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” 
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on our ways.  The Bible makes it clear that each one of us has a way that seems right to us, but it is only God’s way that leads to life.  When we accept God’s ways as being far above our own ways, we begin a journey that leads us in a way which is eternal.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your ways to see how much of them are of you and how much are of Him.  Pray that you would continually grow in accepting and living by God’s ways in all things.  Pray for the humility needed to admit when your ways are in error so that you would turn to the ways of God.  Pray that the way you live your life would help others clearly see Jesus at work in you.

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
2 Samuel 22:33 (NIV)

Pray that you would find the strength from God to walk in a way He has made perfect.  Pray that you would live with the courage to pursue a way that is perfect by God’s standard.  Pray that your life would help others to know the way of God to be perfect in all situations.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Courageous Way! (Sermon Audio)

A Courageous Way! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 24, 2022 sermon, “A Courageous Way”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 5:13 – 6:27

Following God will call us to live with the courage needed to follow His plan.  This kind of courage calls us to live with a courageous . . .

  • Wisdom.  Joshua 5:13-19, James 3:17-18
    • While the wisdom of this world will have us trying to figure out who is for us and how is against us, courageous wisdom will always acknowledge God is in charge.  This type of wisdom is only available from God and will lead to a harvest of righteousness.
  • Action.  Joshua 6:8-14, James 2:14-17
    • When we choose to live in a courageous way, it is not good enough to simply be doing something because that type of action is usually focused on doing what pleases us the most rather than on what pleases God.  Courageous action is all about doing what God says even if doing so goes against every fiber of what our nature wants to do.
  • Yell.  Joshua 6:15-17, James 4:7-10
    • Most people want to be heard and will often keep repeating themselves with louder and louder volume if they believe no one is listening.  A courageous yell isn’t so much about the volume or tone of our voice, but rather about having the courage to speak when God calls us to rather then when we want to.

Today, will your WAY be courageous?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pure Thoughts! (07/22/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Pure Thoughts! (07/22/22)

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

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on living with courageous purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.

“The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.”
Proverbs 15:26 (NIV)

As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  Pray that your thoughts would only be of things that are pleasing to  God.  Pray for a purity of thoughts that would guide all of your actions.  Pray that the people around you would understand how important their thought life is and that nothing you do would cause them to have impure thoughts.

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: A Purity of Words! (07/21/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Purity of Words! (07/21/22)

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This is the audio from the July 21, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on living with courageous purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  Pray that God’s guard over your mouth would keep your speech pure in all situations.  Pray for the courage to be silent when needed and to speak when appropriate.  Pray that the people around you would hear a consistent message of your faith as you ask God to watch what comes from your lips.

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: A Pure Way! (07/20/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Pure Way! (07/20/22)

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This is the audio from the July 20, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on living with courageous purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.

“How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.”
Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  Pray that you would be a faithful student of God’s Word for the purpose of keeping your way pure.  Pray that all of your ways would be pleasing to God.  Pray that the people around you would come to know God’s Word as a protection to keep their life pure.

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: A Pure Heart! (07/19/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: A Pure Heart! (07/19/22)

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

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on living with courageous purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  Pray that you would seek and allow God to create a pure heart within you.  Pray that a purity of heart would calm your spirit and keep you steadfast in your relationship with God.  Pray that the people around you would see your persistence in allowing God’s Spirit to purify 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

Encouragement and Prayer: Pure Fear of the Lord! (07/18/22)

Encouragement and Prayer: Pure Fear of the Lord! (07/18/22)

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

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on living with courageous purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.  As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  Pray that your pursuit of purity would be courageous as you choose God’s standards rather than the ways of the world.  Pray that the promises of God would motivate you to a purity that honors and pleases Him.

“The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.”
Psalm 19:9 (NIV)

Pray that you would always live according to a pure fear of the Lord.  Pray that your reverence of God would come from pure motives and would never waver.  Pray that the people around you would come to know a fear of the Lord as the foundation for all purity.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Courageous Purity! (Sermon Audio)

Courageous Purity! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 17, 2022 sermon, “R & R: The Fruit of Courageous Purity”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 5:1-12, Colossians 2:9-15

Before the battles begin, God calls us to be purified and set apart for His exclusive use.  We grow in courage when we allow the purifying work of God to cut away our sinful nature when we are buried with Christ in baptism.  The fruit of this circumcision of the heart should result in the same type of fruit the Israelites experienced following their obedience to God in circumcision.  While most of us appreciate the common R & R of rest and relaxation, this morning I want us to consider three R & R events experienced by the Israelites, and by us, when God is allowed to do His work of purification.

As we grow in courageous and obedient purity, we find our. . .

  • Reproach Removed.  Joshua 5:9, Colossians 2:13-15
    • The enemy does a pretty good job of accusing, blaming, and making us feel unworthy and unfit for God’s love.  When we allow God to do the work of purifying us, we find the reproach of the enemy removed.  While it takes courage to live in obedient purity, the freedom from reproach makes every effort of obedience worth it.
  • Rescue Remembered.  Joshua 5:10, Colossians 2:11-12
    • As forgetful people, it is often easy to start thinking we’ve always been where we are in our relationship with God.  Not only did God remove the reproach from the Israelites, and from us, He calls us to remember how He is the One who rescued us.  While it takes courage to remember where we were before becoming obedient to Christ, the result of remembering will help us believe God can rescue those around us.
  • Resources Restored.  Joshua 5:11-12, Colossians 2:9-10
    • Sin has a way of devouring all that is good and wholesome in our life.  When God’s people responded to His instructions with a courageous and obedient purity, He restored their resources and brought them fully into the land He had promised.  While it can be much easier for us to focus on what we have lost, or don’t have in comparison to others, God want us to live as those who have the fullness of Christ and all of His resources dwelling within us.

How much courage will it take today for you to experience God’s R & R through a commitment to purity?