knowledge

Encouragement and Prayer: Producing Longing! (04/28/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Producing Longing! (04/28/22)

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This is the audio from the April 28, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.”
2 Corinthians 7:11 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some of the things produced in our life by godly sorrow.  I suspect that most of us are much more aware of the sorrow we experience than the sorrow we cause.  As I read scripture, it appears that both the sorrow we experience and the sorrow we cause can be either godly sorrow or worldly sorrow.  One of the clearest ways to determine the true source of the sorrow is to examine just what the sorrow produces.

“When we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.”
1 Thessalonians 2:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how a godly sorrow produces in you a variety of necessary things.  Pray that your godly sorrow would cause an intense longing to be reconciled with others.  Pray for a growing desire to connect with people that you may not have seen in person for some time.  Pray that your longing for others would help them to know the longing God has for each of us.

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: Producing Indignation! (04/27/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Producing Indignation! (04/27/22)

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This is the audio from the April 27, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.”
2 Corinthians 7:11 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some of the things produced in our life by godly sorrow.  I suspect that most of us are much more aware of the sorrow we experience than the sorrow we cause.  As I read scripture, it appears that both the sorrow we experience and the sorrow we cause can be either godly sorrow or worldly sorrow.  One of the clearest ways to determine the true source of the sorrow is to examine just what the sorrow produces.

“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.”
Mark 10:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how a godly sorrow produces in you a variety of necessary things.  Pray that your godly sorrow would lead you to an indignation that challenges your incorrect attitudes.  Pray for the courage to stand up for those who are being overlooked, neglected, or even rejected.

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: Producing Eagerness! (04/26/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Producing Eagerness! (04/26/22)

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This is the audio from the April 26, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.”
2 Corinthians 7:11 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some of the things produced in our life by godly sorrow.  I suspect that most of us are much more aware of the sorrow we experience than the sorrow we cause.  As I read scripture, it appears that both the sorrow we experience and the sorrow we cause can be either godly sorrow or worldly sorrow.  One of the clearest ways to determine the true source of the sorrow is to examine just what the sorrow produces.

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
Acts 17:11 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how a godly sorrow produces in you a variety of necessary things.  Pray that your godly sorrow would create an eagerness in your life to know real truth.  Pray that you would be eager to understand the accuracy 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: Producing Earnestness! (04/25/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Producing Earnestness! (04/25/22)

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

“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.”
2 Corinthians 7:11 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some of the things produced in our life by godly sorrow.  I suspect that most of us are much more aware of the sorrow we experience than the sorrow we cause.  As I read scripture, it appears that both the sorrow we experience and the sorrow we cause can be either godly sorrow or worldly sorrow.  One of the clearest ways to determine the true source of the sorrow is to examine just what the sorrow produces.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how a godly sorrow produces in you a variety of necessary things.  Pray that you would be a truthful messenger of God so that any sorrow you produce in others would be of the godly kind.  Pray for a growing desire to endure whatever it takes to bring about a maturity in your thoughts and actions.  Pray that God would use the sorrow you experience in order to help shape you more and more into the image of Christ.  Pray that God would use you to make Jesus known to those who are filled with sorrow.

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
Luke 22:44 (NIV)

Pray that your godly sorrow would produce an earnestness in your communication with God.  Pray for the humility to be earnest with those who have added to your sorrow and with those whose sorrow has been increased by you.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Godly Sorrow Which Produces A Great JOY! (Sermon Audio)
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Godly Sorrow Which Produces A Great JOY! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 24, 2022 sermon, “Godly Sorrow”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  2 Corinthians 7:2-16, Psalm 30:4-5

Sorrow tends to come to each of us from a variety of sources and for different purposes.  While most of us would rather avoid sorrow, God says there is a kind of sorrow that, when allowed to do its work, produces a great . . .

  • Journey.  2 Corinthians 7:2-7, John 16:33
    • I suspect that there are aspects of any journey we have undertaken that either haven’t gone exactly as planned, or we simply didn’t like what we went through.  One of the keys to pressing on through the midst of sorrow is to realize our journey is taking us to a destination that is full of joy.  The godly sorrow that we experience, and even the godly sorrow that we cause, can all be part of a great journey that helps us appreciate the goodness of God even in the midst of difficult times.
  • Obedience.  2 Corinthians 7:8-11, Jeremiah 42:6
    • One of the primary differences between godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world is how we react.  God’s desire for us in our experiences of sorrow is that we would respond with obedience.  Paul acknowledges that he was one of the sources of sorrow for the Corinthians, but because that sorrow led to repentance Paul did not regret the things he had written.  While there are times our sharing of God’s Word may bring sorrow into our life or into the lives of others, when our heart and motives are pure that sorrow ought to lead to a greater obedience.
  • You!  2 Corinthians 7:12-16, James 1:2-4
    • I suspect that if I were to ask if you wanted to be mature and complete, your answer would either be that you thought you already were or that you would like to be.  James tells us that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials (sorrows) of various kinds because the end result is that we would be made mature and complete.  When our sorrow is lived out as godly sorrow, it changes you as it changes your journey, your obedience, and YOU!

How will you allow godly sorrow to produce great JOY?

Encouragement and Prayer: Confirming Discovery! (04/22/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Confirming Discovery! (04/22/22)

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

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’”
Luke 24:15-17 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some lessons from a walk with Jesus.  While we tend to gather and celebrate resurrection morning with gladness, that first resurrection morning was filled with much confusion and uncertainty.  It is in that confusion that Jesus joins two disciples for a walk and helps them to understand all that had happened.

“Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
Luke 24:24 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding as you walk with Him each day.  Pray for an openness in checking out what others have found in their search for Jesus.  Pray that your life would confirm to others that Jesus is exactly who He claims to be.  Pray that your confirmed faith in Jesus would help you share Him 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: Amazing Faith, Amazing Testimony! (04/21/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Amazing Faith, Amazing Testimony! (04/21/22)

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

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’”
Luke 24:15-17 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some lessons from a walk with Jesus.  While we tend to gather and celebrate resurrection morning with gladness, that first resurrection morning was filled with much confusion and uncertainty.  It is in that confusion that Jesus joins two disciples for a walk and helps them to understand all that had happened.

“In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body.”
Luke 24:22 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding as you walk with Him each day.  Pray for a faith that anticipates being amazed by God.  Pray that the practice of your faith would amaze those who see your faith in action.  Pray about how God would have you share the amazing things you have found in your pursuit of 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: Hope Of Redemption! (04/20/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Hope Of Redemption! (04/20/22)

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

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’”
Luke 24:15-17 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will focus on some lessons from a walk with Jesus.  While we tend to gather and celebrate resurrection morning with gladness, that first resurrection morning was filled with much confusion and uncertainty.  It is in that confusion that Jesus joins two disciples for a walk and helps them to understand all that had happened.

“We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.”
Luke 24:21 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding as you walk with Him each day.  Pray that you would live with a confident hope as one who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.  Pray that you would trust God’s timing in everything, especially when you feel like too much time has passed for anything good to come out of tragic circumstances.

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

In prayer,
Tom