knowledge

A Road of Prayer! (Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Prayer! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 2, 2023 sermon, “A Road of Prayer; Sweet HOUR of Prayer”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 22:31-32, 39-46

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series considers a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection.  Throughout His life on earth, Jesus set the example regarding the necessity of prayer.  As we walk this road to resurrection with Jesus, we find Him praying in the upper room with His disciples then returning to prayer in the garden as He asked them to join Him in the sweet . . .

  • Hope of Prayer:  —  Luke 22:31-32

    • Life is full of struggles and difficulties that may very well shake us to the very core of our being.  In the midst of Jesus telling Peter what Satan has desired to do, there is great hope in knowing Jesus has prayed for him and states work that is to be done after the failure.  When we live life on the road of prayer with Jesus, we live with great hope as we trust Him to accomplish everything He has promised.

  • Opportunity of Prayer:  —  Luke 22:39-40

    • The greatest opportunities of life are not about luck, but rather they are about being prepared.  We find Jesus praying in the garden because prayer was His natural response to life.  When we create a habit of prayer in our own life, we find every moment is an opportunity to pray for our self, for our friends, and even for our enemies.

  • Understanding of Prayer — Luke 22:41-44

    • Many people give up on prayer because it didn’t accomplish what they had hoped it would.  Prayer is not some type of cosmic vending machine that gives us whatever we want simply because we put the “coin’ of prayer in the proper slot.  Jesus taught us that a proper understanding of prayer is that which always seeks the will of God and seeks to honor Him regardless of whether the result is what we wanted or not.

  • Result of Prayer — Luke 22:45-46

    • If our understanding of prayer teaches us it isn’t about our will, then the result of prayer should always be such that our will aligns more closely with what God wants.  Jesus asked His disciples to pray so they would not fall into temptation.  When we walk this road of prayer each step of life we take, we discover a result that helps us to avoid the traps of temptation the enemy has placed all along our way.

Today, will you join Jesus in the sweet HOUR of prayer?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With Joy! (4/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With Joy! (4/4/23)

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

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Pray that you would understand your need for God’s  help in this part of your relationship with Him — as in all other parts.  Pray that you would be always watchful and thankful as you pray — both qualities that will require God’s help.  Pray that  your relationship with God would grow as your devotion to prayer grows.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.”
Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

Ask God to fill you with joy about Him and about those you pray for.  Pray that your joy would be expressed, and even increased, because of the way you pray for all of those around you.  Pray that you would live in such a way that others would be filled with joy in their prayers for 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: Serving By God’s Power! (3/27/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Serving By God’s Power! (3/27/23)

I am in Mississippi this week helping with disaster response following a series of tornados that ripped through the state over the weekend.  My internet is limited so I’m not able to do live stream broadcasts or upload the audio, but here is the written part of the day’s devotion.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about serving others.  While many people put much time and effort into climbing their version of the ladder of success, few take time to understand God’s instructions for becoming great.  Not only did Jesus serve others as He walked this earth, that was His purpose in coming.  He made it clear through His teaching and His example that true success is found by climbing down the ladder to be with those who need served rather than climbing up the ladder away from them.  Any level of greatness that we might achieve will only be found as we view ourselves accurately according to God’s perspective and serve others as Jesus did.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with the humility that sees yourself as He sees you.  Pray for the courage to serve others when your flesh desires to be served.  Pray for the wisdom to serve others according to their need.  Pray for the desire to be more Christ-like in the way you serve.  Pray that your greatness would be measured by your sacrificial acts of service to others.

“For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.”
2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Pray that your weaknesses would allow God’s power to be evident in you as you serve others.  Pray that you would not use your weakness as an excuse to not serve 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 Road of Serving! (Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Serving! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the March 26, 2023 sermon, “A Road of Serving: What Will You DO?”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 22:7-30

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series will consider a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection.  As Jesus and His disciples traveled their road to resurrection on that final week before the cross, they pause to share a special meal together — a meal designed to commemorate the salvation which was experienced as the angel of death passed over the homes of those who had applied the blood of the lamb to the door posts of the home.  This was a significant meal that not only looked back, but also looked forward to what was about to happen.  Within that context, we find Jesus both teaching and showing what it looks like to be on a road of serving.  As we look to Jesus and are reminded of what He has done, there are two questions we ought to continually ask ourselves,  what will I  . . .

  • Discover:  —  Luke 22:7-13

  • Obey:  —  Luke 22:14-30

Today, what will you choose to DO?

Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding the Source of Scripture! (3/24/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding the Source of Scripture! (3/24/23)

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This is the audio from the March 24, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.”
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be to pray about growing in our understanding — our understanding of the things of God as well as our understanding of one another.  In a nation full of division, perhaps our understanding of the times would lead us to a greater understanding of God and then to a greater understanding of people.

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.”
2 Peter 1:20 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding.  Pray that you would always view God’s Word as sacred because you understand its real source.  Pray that your response to scripture would be based on you understanding and acceptance of the fact that it is “God-breathed”.

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: Understanding the Good We Have In Christ! (3/23/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding the Good We Have In Christ! (3/23/23)

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This is the audio from the March 23, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.”
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be to pray about growing in our understanding — our understanding of the things of God as well as our understanding of one another.  In a nation full of division, perhaps our understanding of the times would lead us to a greater understanding of God and then to a greater understanding of people.

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”
Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding.  Pray for the courage to live and share you faith so that others would see and hear it.  Pray for a growing understanding of the good things  you have in Christ.  Pray that the sharing of your faith will increase your understanding of the goodness of God.

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: Understanding God’s Will! (3/22/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding God’s Will! (3/22/23)

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This is the audio from the March 22, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.”
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be to pray about growing in our understanding — our understanding of the things of God as well as our understanding of one another.  In a nation full of division, perhaps our understanding of the times would lead us to a greater understanding of God and then to a greater understanding of people.

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Ephesians 5:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding.  Pray that you would understand the will of God as revealed through His Word, through the example of Jesus, and through the power of His Spirit.  Pray for wisdom in understanding how God’s love and compassion shape His will for you and for everyone you meet.

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: Understanding God’s Gifts! (3/21/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding God’s Gifts! (3/21/23)

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This is the audio from the March 21, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.”
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be to pray about growing in our understanding — our understanding of the things of God as well as our understanding of one another.  In a nation full of division, perhaps our understanding of the times would lead us to a greater understanding of God and then to a greater understanding of people.

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding.  Pray for a greater understanding of the gifting that is made known through God’s Spirit.  Pray that your understanding of the grace of God would lead you to share what He has freely given to you.

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

In prayer,
Tom