knowledge

Encouragement and Prayer: Live Differently! (05/09/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Live Differently! (05/09/22)

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

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 
2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on living as those who are becoming different.  Different than what we were, different from one another, and  different from the world.  The Bible uses the words unique and peculiar to describe the children of God, yet how often to we seek to blend in rather than become who God wants us to be?  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in maturity as you allow Him to transform every aspect of your life.  Pray that you would use God’s Word and the example of His Son as your standard in all things.  Pray that you would not only avoid the trap of comparing yourself to others, but that you would also not use yourself as the standard you measure with.  Pray that by living life differently, you would represent Jesus more effectively.  Pray for wisdom in how you see others and in how you see yourself.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”
2 Corinthians 10:3 (NIV)

Pray that you would look at all aspects of life differently because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for the courage to live in this world as a visitor.  Pray that the way you interact with others would show a wisdom that comes from above.  Pray that your mind and heart would be protected in this world.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Called To BE Different! (Sermon Audio)
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Called To BE Different! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 8, 2022 sermon, “Called To BE Different”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  2 Corinthians 10 & 11, Romans 12:1-2

As I look back through scripture, I find a consistent record of God calling people to Himself in a way that compels them to be different — different from what they were before and different from the people around them.  Today, let us consider a God who calls us to . . .

  • Believe Differently.  2 Corinthians 10:3-6
    • God calls us to be different as we believe differently through a renewing of our mind.  It is critical that we take every thought captive and make each one obedient to Christ.  Our battle is not a flesh and blood battle, in fact it is most often a battle in the heavenly realms and in our mind.  We are on the road to becoming different when we believe differently about ourselves and about others.
  • Express Differently.  2 Corinthians 10:12,18; 11:30
    • God calls us to be different as we express differently because of the work God is doing in our life.  Jesus says that it is out of the overflow of our heart that the mouth speaks.  Our love for people, or lack of love for people, will speak volumes that will either confirm our words or contradict what we say.  While the world teaches us to promote our self, God wants us to be representatives that make Jesus known.

How will you BE different today?

Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Love For One Another! (05/06/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Love For One Another! (05/06/22)

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

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some areas that God says we should excel in.  What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray for a growing ability to love others like Jesus loves you.  Pray that you would daily learn from the love that Jesus excelled at.  Pray that you would desire to excel in your love for Christ and for one another.  Pray that you would know the greatness of genuine love.

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: Excel In Earnestness! (05/05/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Earnestness! (05/05/22)

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This is the audio from the May 5, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some areas that God says we should excel in.  What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray that you would excel in earnestness in your relationship with God and with others.  Pray that there would be both an urgency and honesty in your pursuit of God.  Pray that there would be nothing fake about your pursuit of God and relationship with Him through 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: Excel In Knowledge! (05/04/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Knowledge! (05/04/22)

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This is the audio from the May 4, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some areas that God says we should excel in.  What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!  Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray that you would excel in knowledge in a way that builds up others.  Pray that your life would be lived in pursuit of a greater knowledge of Christ.  Pray that your excelling in knowledge would not puff you up but would help others know 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: Excel In Speech! (05/03/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Speech! (05/03/22)

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This is the audio from the May 3, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some areas that God says we should excel in.  What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”
1 Peter 3:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray that God’s love would create in you a desire to excel in speech.  Pray that God would put a guard over your mouth so that your speech is pleasing to Him.  Pray that your speech would bring about good days for you and for 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

Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Faith! (05/02/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Excel In Faith! (05/02/22)

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

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some areas that God says we should excel in.  What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.  As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray that you would be diligent applying each day’s topic to your life with the work necessary for you to become good at it.  Pray that your pursuit of excelling in these areas would come from the very source and foundation of all things excellent — Jesus Christ.

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”
Luke 17:5 (NIV)

Pray for the humility required to admit you need God’s help in learning how to excel in faith.  As you pray for God to increase your faith, look for the situations He will give that requires your trust of Him to grow.  Pray that your trust of God would cause others to know you as one who excels in faith.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Something To EAT (Sermon Audio)
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Something To EAT (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 1, 2022 sermon, “Something To EAT”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 8:14-38

After feeding the 5000 in Mark 6 and then feeding a slightly small crowd of 4000 at the beginning of Mark 8 with just a handful of provisions, the disciples framed a statement of Jesus about being on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees as calling them out for only having one loaf of bread with them.  Before I come down too hard on the disciples for being focused on the physical and missing the spiritual, I need to look at myself to see how often I am more concerned about the physical meals I pursue than I am about the spiritual food that Jesus offers.  When we realize that Jesus has food that sustains both body and soul, we begin to understand the importance of turning to Jesus for something to . . .

  • Examine.  Mark 8:14-21
    • We find something to eat from Jesus when we begin to examine His work in scripture and His work in our life.  When we become distracted by our own thoughts and the chaos of life, it is important to remember how He has provided in the past and how He continues to provide today.  When we complain about only having one loaf, it is good to remember all that Jesus can do when we offer everything we have to Him . . . regardless of how big or small it might seem.
  • Accept.  Mark 8:22-30
    • We find something to eat from Jesus when we begin to accept not only what He has done, but also accept who He is.  Sometimes the work of Jesus in our life seems rather messy and unpleasant, kind of like Jesus spitting in the eyes of the blind man of our text, but in the  messiness we must choose to accept God knows what He is doing and it is always for our good.  It is accepting that God knows what He is doing that we begin to see Jesus for who He is so that regardless of who others say He is, we accept and acknowledge that He is indeed the Son of God.
  • Teach.  Mark 8:31-38
    • We find something to eat from Jesus when we begin to teach the things we are learning.  Even when we think we know how things ought to be, there will be times we find ourselves in need of correction so that we may teach more accurately.  We have something to teach not because we are so smart, but because we have listened to God’s calling to surrender everything to Him as we daily take up our cross and follow Jesus.  We teach best when our words and actions match and we allow God’s Spirit to work through us.  As we consider what we teach others, I believe a fair question to ask our self would be, “Who would the people around me say that I say Jesus is?”.

Today, as you consider your spiritual need, will you turn to Jesus for something to EAT?