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Living a Transformed LIFE (Sermon Audio)
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Living a Transformed LIFE (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the November 14, 2021 sermon, “Living a Transformed LIFE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Romans 12:1-13

Living the Christian life is only possible by the transforming power of Christ in us.  Paul writes to the Romans, and to us, that when we are transformed by the renewing of our mind we are able to test and approve the will of God.  As those who desire to do the will of God, we place ourselves in position to do that when we are living with a transformed . . .

  • Love.  Romans 12:9a, Matthew 5:43-48, John 15:13
    • Living with a transformed love means that we learn to love like Jesus.  A sincere love is one that is genuine and has a concern for others that is greater than even our concern for our self.  Loving those who love us is relatively easy — at least compared to loving our enemies.  But loving our enemies in addition to our friends is the kind of transformed love that Jesus calls us to live with.
  • Insight.  Romans 12:9b, Psalm 119:99
    • Living with a transformed insight changes who decides what is good and what is evil.  Most people tend to develop a sense of right and wrong from a variety of sources — some times including God’s Word as one of those sources and sometimes not.  Living with a transformed insight should lead us to consider God’s Word as the authority for clinging to what is good and rejecting all that is evil.
  • Freedom.  Romans 12:10, Galatians 5:13
    • Living with a transformed freedom leads us to using our freedoms to serve others according to their needs.  Many times when we seek freedom we desire to be free from anything that isn’t what we want.  The freedom that we really need is a freedom from the bondage of sin and from the trap of our selfish desires.  The devotion and honor that we show one another speaks volumes to others about the true freedom that is available to all.
  • Expression.  Romans 12:11-13, 2 Corinthians 9:12
    • Living with a transformed expression should lead others to ask often about the hope that lies within you.  All of the transformation that takes place within our heart and mind should be evident in our actions and our speech.  What is inside of a person cannot be hidden forever and when we allow God to transform us from the inside out, the expression of that transformation ought to be visible to a world that is watching..

What area of your life is God calling you to open more fully to Him so that you can experience living a transformed life?

Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For Shared Concern! (11/12/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For Shared Concern! (11/12/21)

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This is the audio from the November 12, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.”
2 Corinthians 8:16 (NIV)

God’s desire is that we give thanks in all circumstances at all times.  It is too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.

As you pray, ask God to help you live a life of thankfulness each day.  Thank God that He draws believers to a common concern for one another and pray that you would always remember it.  Pray that you would be filled with a concern for others.  Pray about how God would have you make your concern for others known.

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: Thankful For Real Victory! (11/11/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For Real Victory! (11/11/21)

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This is the audio from the November 11, 2021 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.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

God’s desire is that we give thanks in all circumstances at all times.  It is too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.

As you pray, ask God to help you live a life of thankfulness each day.  Pray for the wisdom to know what real victory looks like.  Thank God for the victory over sin and death, as well as for the daily victories, through Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would experience true victory through a relationship with 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: Thankful For Received Grace! (11/10/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For Received Grace! (11/10/21)

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This is the audio from the November 10, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

God’s desire is that we give thanks in all circumstances at all times.  It is too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.

As you pray, ask God to help you live a life of thankfulness each day.  Thank God for His amazing grace that He offers to all who would accept it.  As you pray, recognize it is that same grace extended to you that allows you to be thankful for the people around you.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s grace extended through 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: Thankful For Changed Lives! (11/09/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For Changed Lives! (11/09/21)

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This is the audio from the November 9, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.”
Romans 6:17 (NIV)

God’s desire is that we give thanks in all circumstances at all times.  It is too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.

As you pray, ask God to help you live a life of thankfulness each day. Thank God for the desire and strength to turn from sin and live obediently to the truth.  Pray that the people around you would wholeheartedly obey the teaching of the gospel and be changed.

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: Thankful For Faithful Reputations! (11/08/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For Faithful Reputations! (11/08/21)

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This is the audio from the November 8, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”
Romans 1:8 (NIV)

God’s desire is that we give thanks in all circumstances at all times.  It is too easy to let the cares of the world steal our joy and thankfulness, so this week we will pray about a variety of reasons to be thankful as well as things to be thankful for.  God connects our attitudes and conversations with one another with our life of thankfulness to Him.

As you pray, ask God to help you live a life of thankfulness each day. Pray that the trait of faithfulness would be valued by you and those around you.  Thank God for those people who inspire you because of their reputation of faith in Jesus.  Pray that you would be one whose faithful reputation inspires others.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A TOUCH of Faith (Sermon Audio)
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A TOUCH of Faith (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio and outline from the November 7, 2021 sermon, “A TOUCH of Faith”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 5:21-43

In scripture, the size of a person’s faith never seems to make as much difference as the object of one’s faith.  Imagine what God can do in your life with just a . . .

  • Thought of Faith.  Mark 5:27-28
    • Our actions nearly always begin with our thoughts, and an active faith is no exception.  The individuals approaching Jesus in our text thought that Jesus could do something to help them.  That thought showed itself to be faith when they choose to take action of their own — one asking Jesus to come with him and the other reaching out to touch the garment of Jesus.  We live with a touch of faith when we choose to think about what Jesus can bring to our life and then reach out to encounter Him wherever we are.
  • Observation of Faith.  Mark 5:31-32
    • Because as James writes, “Faith without deeds is dead”, our thought of faith needs to lead us to a faith that is observable.  Whether it is our faith or the faith of others, being able to see it in action helps us to grow in an even greater awareness and practice of faith.  We live with a touch of faith when we take not of all that God is doing in, through, and around us.
  • Understanding of Faith.  Mark 5:33-34
    • Because the thoughts and ways of God are so much higher and purer than our thoughts and ways, gaining an understanding of the ways of God can only be accomplished through faith.  Jesus makes it clear that it was not the touching of His garment in and of itself that brought healing to the woman, instead it was her faith that did so.  We live with a touch of faith when we learn to understand the process of faith is in the person of Jesus rather than in the substance of this world.
  • Challenge of Faith.  Mark 5:35-36
    • Perhaps the most difficult part of a life of faith is the challenge that inevitably comes.  Our request isn’t answered in the way we wanted.  Our loved one remains sick or even dies.  The layoffs at work leave the family struggling to make ends meet.  The cares and trouble of this world can challenge our faith at every level of our life.  We live with a touch of faith when we look to God and trust Him to work in the midst of all these challenges in ways that are ultimately for our benefit.
  • Hope of Faith.  Mark 5:41-43
    • When we consider living with the hope of faith, I believe it is important to remember that there is no evidence that any of the people healed by Jesus are still alive on earth today.  Our hope of faith needs to be greater than simply a hope for a better or longer life on earth.  In fact, the Bible teaches that if our hope is only for this life then we are to be pitied above all others.  We live with a touch of faith when we endure all things with a growing awareness of the eternal home that is the ultimate fulfillment of our hope and faith.

Today, how will you live with a TOUCH of Faith?

Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For the Work God Gives! (11/05/21)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Thankful For the Work God Gives! (11/05/21)

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This is the audio from the November 5, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

As we approach the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday later this month, our prayer focus for the next few weeks will take another look at some of our previous prayer guides on giving thanks.  As with all of these prayer guides, this is not something that we should pray about for a week or so and then dismiss.  God’s desire is that we give thanks in all circumstances at all times.  Giving thanks shows our appreciation not only for what God has done, but for what He is doing and what He will do.  This week we will focus each day on something different the Bible says God’s people should give thanks for.

As you pray, examine your typical level of thankfulness and ask God to help you grow in gratitude.  Pray that you would recognize God’s hand in providing with the opportunities for all you do.  Pray that you would be thankful for every word and deed that God allows you to do 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