knowledge

Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Hands! (5/10/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Hands! (5/10/23)

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This is the audio from the May 10, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 141:2 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your hands to God in prayer — both as a sign of surrender and as an invitation for Him to fill them.  Pray that the lifting of your hands would be consistent with your need to hold on to Jesus as the source of courage in the midst of fear

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: Lift Up Your Heart! (5/9/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Heart! (5/9/23)

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This is the audio from the May 9, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.  Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven.”
Lamentations 3:40-41 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your heart to God as you open it for His examination.  Pray that your heart would be lifted toward God in a way that draws you back to Him when you find fear creating a distance between you and God.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Lifted UP! (Sermon Audio)
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Lifted UP! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the May 7, 2023 sermon, “Finding Help When You’re Afraid: Lifted UP!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Jonah 2, Matthew 14:22-33

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

Today I began a sermon series about finding help in our times of need.  Life in general, but I think particularly life as a Christian, doesn’t always go like we think it should.  The series begins as we examine two Bible stories where people were filled with fear and cried out to God for help.  Life has a way of creating waves of doubt and oceans of fear for us in ways that threaten our safety and sense of security.  As we gaze into God’s Word, we find that when we cry out to Him in the midst of our fears that not only are we lifted up, but He gives us a lifted . . .

  • Understanding:  — Jonah 2:3-6, Matthew 14:25-29

    • Fear is driven by many different winds of life.  Sometimes, as in the case of Jonah, we are afraid because of the consequences of our own disobedience or the disobedience of others.  Other times, as in the case of Peter, we are obeying the instructions of Jesus when the things of this world creates enough doubt that we become fearful.  Either way, God’s desire is to lift our understanding so that we would acknowledge Him as the source from whom we find help..

  • Purpose:  — Jonah 1:16, Jonah 2:9, Matthew 14:32-33

    • Living with a lifted purpose comes when God helps us to live with courage even when we’re afraid.  Elements of fear and anxiety seem to be a natural part of living in this flesh and there are times when we need the help of various aspects of the medical community to overcome what is going on in our body.  But even when that is the case, I believe that God’s desire is to use our struggles for a greater purpose in His kingdom.  When we cry out to God in our times of need, He lifts us up with the purpose that we would worship Him whether He removes our fears or simply carries us through our fears..

When we cry out to God in our times of fear, He lifts us up and brings us to a place of worship..

Today, how will you live as one who has been lifted UP?

Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Head! (5/8/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Lift Up Your Head! (5/8/23)

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This is the audio from the May 8, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that your choice to “lift up” would encourage others as they go through times of feeling afraid.  Pray that God would fill you with the humility that keeps others pointed to Jesus when you are lifted up.  Pray for the courage to lift your life to Jesus when others want to push you down.  Pray that you would be faithful in praising God even as you wait to be lifted up.  Pray that your hope would not fade as you find yourself in need.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:28 (NIV)

Pray that you would lift up your head, even in the midst of fear, to notice the works of God taking place around you.  Pray that your head would be lifted up to see the completion of your redemption which has been purchased by the blood 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: Grow In Your Salvation! (5/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Your Salvation! (5/5/23)

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This is the audio from the May 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to grow!  When the Bible talks about our need to grow, it is most often talking about the individual Christian growing so that the body as a whole will be healthy and grow as God intends.  When we spend time with God seeking to grow in Christ, we find that we are less distracted by the things the enemy will use in an attempt to keep us from maturing.  When we grow in Christ, we become a healthy part of the body and as the body increases in health, it will grow both naturally and supernaturally.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would crave the things of God that will help you grow in your salvation.  Pray that the goodness of the Lord would increase your desire to grow in Him.  Pray that you would grow in your full acceptance of the salvation that only comes 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: Grow In Faith! (5/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Faith! (5/4/23)

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This is the audio from the May 4, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to grow!  When the Bible talks about our need to grow, it is most often talking about the individual Christian growing so that the body as a whole will be healthy and grow as God intends.  When we spend time with God seeking to grow in Christ, we find that we are less distracted by the things the enemy will use in an attempt to keep us from maturing.  When we grow in Christ, we become a healthy part of the body and as the body increases in health, it will grow both naturally and supernaturally.

“We ought always to thank God for you, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would grow in the faith required to love others.  Pray that you would live by faith in a way that increases your love for others.  Pray with thankfulness for what God is doing in the lives of 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: Grow In Knowledge! (5/3/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Knowledge! (5/3/23)

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This is the audio from the May 3, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to grow!  When the Bible talks about our need to grow, it is most often talking about the individual Christian growing so that the body as a whole will be healthy and grow as God intends.  When we spend time with God seeking to grow in Christ, we find that we are less distracted by the things the enemy will use in an attempt to keep us from maturing.  When we grow in Christ, we become a healthy part of the body and as the body increases in health, it will grow both naturally and supernaturally.

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would grow in knowledge where it counts — knowledge of God.  Pray that your knowledge would help you live a life that pleases the Lord.

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: Grow In Love! (5/2/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Grow In Love! (5/2/23)

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This is the audio from the May 2, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to grow!  When the Bible talks about our need to grow, it is most often talking about the individual Christian growing so that the body as a whole will be healthy and grow as God intends.  When we spend time with God seeking to grow in Christ, we find that we are less distracted by the things the enemy will use in an attempt to keep us from maturing.  When we grow in Christ, we become a healthy part of the body and as the body increases in health, it will grow both naturally and supernaturally.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would grow in love as you do your part in caring for others.  Pray that you would live in a way that everything in your own life, and in the life of each person you serve, is held together by godly love.

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

In prayer,
Tom