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Opened Doors, Closed Doors, and Granted Favor

Here is something I wrote last fall based on some thoughts from Nehemiah and an equipment search I was doing for work. Note the update at the bottom of the article of how God answered!

Tom's avatarTom's Treasure

“O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
Nehemiah 1:11

I am in the process of looking for a plow truck (similar to the one pictured above, although a V-Plow would be nice 🙂 ) for Michiana Christian Service Camp.  Searching for a used vehicle can be quite nerve-wracking — particularly when it is for a ministry and you are even more acutely aware of the need to be a good steward of funds God has provided.  I want something durable, reliable, and with no hidden or unseen problems that will serve us well for years to come.  With that said, I realize even the best mechanic can’t see inside an engine, transmission, or other major component…

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Lifestyle of Prayer: One Another (1)

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: One Another!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  In the fourth chapter of Genesis, Cain asks God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”.  It seems that the implied answer from God is, “Yes, you should have been!”.  The Bible is full of encouragement and commands to apply in our relationships with one another.  So, we will spend two weeks of our “Lifestyle of Prayer” focused on a dozen important characteristics to pray for “one another”.  Pray for the people in your life.  Pray for your family, your neighbors, your church family, your co-workers, and anyone else God brings to your mind.  Pray also that these qualities would be ever-increasing in your life as well.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for the “one another” characteristic listed.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Love one another.  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35

Tuesday: Be devoted to and honor one another.  “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:10-13

Wednesday: Accept one another.  “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”  Romans 15:5-7

Thursday: Serve one another.  You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.  ”  Galatians 5:13

Friday: Bear with one another.   “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:2-3

Saturday:  Be kind and compassionate to one another.   “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32.

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Fruit of the Spirit (2)

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Fruit of the Spirit!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  This week we finish our focus on the fruit of the Spirit with a day for each of the final three elements of the fruit of the Spirit and also  praying about the three hindrances to living by the Spirit that are listed at the end of the passage.   Remember, it is “The Fruit” of the Spirit — it is not a buffet where you pick and choose — you ought to have each of these elements present and growing in your life as a result of God’s Spirit living in you!    Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for that element of the fruit of the Spirit to be growing in your life or the hindrance listed to be diminished in your life.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Faithfulness.  Pray that God would continue to reveal to you what true faithfulness looks like.  Pray that God’s Spirit would produce in you great faithfulness to God and to the people in your life.  As you pray for people today, pray that they would be drawn to God’s faithfulness so that they too would be found faithful.

Tuesday: Gentleness.  Pray that God would continue to sand the roughness out of your life and replace it with gentleness.  Pray that God’s Spirit would help you to be gentle with the broken and hurting people you meet today.  As you pray for people today, pray that they would experience the gentleness of God so that they too would know how to be gentle with others.

Wednesday: Self-control.  Pray that God would help you to identify areas of your life that are out of control.  Pray that God’s Spirit would empower you to bring each of those areas under control — self-control that comes from God being in control.  As you pray for people today, pray that they would see God’s Spirit at work through your self-control.

Thursday: Conceited.  Pray that God would help you to not think more highly of yourself than you ought.  Pray for a humility that allows God’s Spirit to produce fruit in your life that you may share it with others.

Friday: Provoking.  Pray that God would help you to not stir up dissension.  Pray that you would consider the welfare of others even as you “provoke them to love and good deeds”.

Saturday:  Envy.  Pray that God would help you to  genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice.  Pray that you would learn godly contentment so that envy would not hinder God’s Spirit working in your life.

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Fruit of the Spirit

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Fruit of the Spirit!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  Our category of prayer emphasis for the next two weeks will be the fruit of the Spirit.  In addition to  a day’s focus on each of the nine parts of the fruit of the Spirit, we will also spend a day focused on praying about the three hindrances to living by the Spirit that are listed at the end of the passage.  Remember, it is “The Fruit” of the Spirit — it is not a buffet where you pick and choose — you ought to have each of these elements present and growing in your life as a result of God’s Spirit living in you!    Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for that element of the fruit of the Spirit to be growing in your life.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Love.  Read 1 Corinthians 13.  Pray that you would fully accept and experience the love of God.  Pray that the people you see today would experience God’s love from Him and through you.  Pray that God’s Spirit would produce in you an accurate reflection of His love.

Tuesday: Joy.  Pray that God would fill your heart and mind with a deep, abiding joy that can only come from His Spirit.  Pray that your joy would be evident to others today regardless of your circumstances.  Pray for those that you know who are struggling to find joy in their life.

Wednesday: Peace.  Pray that God’s Spirit would fill you with a peace that passes all understanding.  Pray that God’s peace in you would help others find peace with God.  Pray specifically today for people you know who have lost all sense of peace in their life.

Thursday: Patience.  Pray that God’s Spirit would help you faithfully endure no matter how long it takes.  Pray that godly patience would help you take a breath and see things more as God sees them.  Pray and act with the understanding that God’s patience, or long-suffering, is because He wants no one to perish.

Friday: Kindness.  Pray that God’s Spirit would help you  act with kindness even when you don’t think people deserve it.  Pray that your acts of godly kindness would help people see the value they have in God’s eyes.  Pray especially for those you know who seem to feel no kindness extended toward them — and then go be kind!

Saturday:  Goodness.  Pray that God’s Spirit would help you to do good to all people.  Pray that the goodness God is growing in you would help others see Him.  Pray for those who need something good in their life — then ask God to involve you in making it happen!

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Protection

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Protection!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  This week we will pray for wisdom to properly use the armor God has given us.  While it is nice to pray for physical protection, more importantly we will pray for spiritual protection as we put on, and use, the full armor of God.  Please note the closing verse — it’s all meant to be used in the context of continual prayer!  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” 
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for godly wisdom in using the piece of armor listed.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Truth.  Pray that God would help you to speak truth in love.  Pray that He would lead you in removing any elements of falsehood from your life.  Pray that truth, God’s truth, would be central in the lives of each person you pray for today.

Tuesday: Righteousness.  Pray that you would be confident that the righteousness you have in Christ will protect your heart and soul.  Pray that God would help you to remove any sense that somehow you may have enough righteousness on your own.  Pray that righteousness, God’s righteousness, would be found in the life of each person you pray for today.

Wednesday: Gospel of Peace.  Pray that you would be filled with a peace that passes all understanding because of the gospel of Jesus.  Pray that God would help you to be a peacemaker as you live and share the gospel.  Pray that peace, God’s peace would fill each person you pray for today.

Thursday: Faith.  Pray that you would have an unwavering faith that will protect you from the accusations of Satan.  Pray that God will help you to deal with, and dismiss, any doubts that the enemy tries to plant in your mind.  Pray that faith, faith in God, will encourage each person you pray for today.

Friday: Salvation.  Pray that the salvation you have in Christ will protect your mind from the deceitfulness of Satan.  Pray that God would remind you that you are His when the enemy tries to convince you that God couldn’t save you.  Pray that salvation, God’s salvation, would be known by each person you pray for today.

Saturday:  Word of God.  Pray that you would be an active student of God’s Word.  Pray that you would allow His Spirit to instruct your understanding so that you would accurately handle the Word of God.  Pray that the Word of God would illuminate the life of each person you pray for today.

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: People

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: People!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  Continue to pray for one another each day.  Continue to pray for the work of our supported missions.  Continue to pray for the family.  Continue to pray for leaders.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.”
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for the people groups listed for that day.  Some of the days you should be able to pray for some of that group by name.  Think about who would fit in each day’s group for you.  Pray about how God would have you interact with each of them.  In each situation, pray for all existing physical, spiritual, and emotional needs to be met.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Neighbors.  Pray for your neighbors!  If you don’t know them, pray that God would give you opportunity to meet them.  Read Luke 10:25-37.  Ask God how you can be the kind of neighbor He wants you to be.

Tuesday: Coworkers/classmates.  These are the people you spend much of your day with.  If you are retired, you may need to think back to who they were.  Pray that God would lead your interaction with them.  Pray that you would notice, and make the most of, every opportunity.

Wednesday: Family members.  Pray for those that do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus.  Pray that each member, far and near, would understand God’s love for them and live according to His purpose.

Thursday: Social acquaintances.  Pray that those you interact with occasionally would see a vibrant representation of Jesus in you.  Pray that they would seek God and live a life pleasing to Him.

Friday: Strangers/unchurched.  Pray for those you pass by today that you do not know.  Pray that their life would be blessed for the purpose of seeing the goodness of God.  Pray that you would be a good ambassador of Christ to them.

Saturday:  Enemies.  Read Luke 6:27-36.  Pray that God would use someone, perhaps you, to reveal Himself to them.  Pray that God would show you how to love your enemies as He does.

 

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Just Pray?

This is an article/notes I wrote to correspond with a sermon I preached November 11, 2012.

Tom's avatarTom's Treasure

I was privileged to preach this morning at the Deer Run Church of Christ as part of the launching of the “A November To Remember” church-wide prayer initiative!  The challenge point of the message came from the conclusion of Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians about the complete armor of God.  Because of the spiritual battle that we are engaged in that fights for our very soul, Paul concludes the teaching of the necessity of the armor of God with this command, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)

How are you doing in the “keep on praying for all the saints” department?  Do you take seriously this command to pray for one another?  How important is it to you and to those you should…

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Prayer: In Secret or Visible?

Tom's avatarTom's Treasure

  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  Matthew 6:5-6 

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.”  Daniel 6:10-11

These two passages give words to two different responses that…

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November To Remember: Week 1

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“A November To Remember”

 A congregation in prayer for one another!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” 
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

If you know the person listed, it is usually easier to know how to pray for them.  It is my prayer that you will use these 40 days of prayer to grow in your connection to the body of Christ and your friends.  Make a list of 60 people that you know and/or interact with and use it as your prayer guide this week.  If you have not yet gotten to know the person, here are some prayer ideas based on the Lord’s model prayer found in Matthew 6.

  1. Pray that they would honor and lift up the name of God.
  2. Pray that they would actively pursue God and follow His will as given to us through His word.
  3. Pray that their spiritual, emotional, physical, and all needs would be met and that they would look to God as the source of all good things.
  4. Pray that they would have both a spirit of forgiveness and a heart of repentance.
  5. Pray that they would be clothed in the armor of God so as to resist the temptations of the evil one.
  6. Pray that they would experience the power of God.

Please spend time praying each day for the people listed for that day.  There are some general prayer suggestions above, but also pray according to knowledge you may have and especially as God’s Spirit prompts you to pray.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Pray for the first 10 people listed on the list you created.

Tuesday: Pray for the second 10 people listed on the list you created.

Wednesday: Pray for the third 10 people listed on the list you created.

Thursday: Pray for the fourth 10 people listed on the list you created.

Friday: Pray for the fifth 10 people listed on the list you created.

Saturday: Pray for the sixth 10 people listed on the list you created.

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Family

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: The Family!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue our prayer emphasis into a new year, we adopted a theme, “A Lifestyle of Prayer”, because prayer should be a lifestyle, not just an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  Continue to use the prayer guide/lists from the past weeks.  We will spend some time in “category” prayer before we return to specific names  This week’s category is “Family”.  Pray that your church congregation is a place where each person is a valued part of the family, regardless of how they fit in their “real” family.

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Children.  Pray for children to be brought up in the fear and knowledge of the Lord in a safe and nurturing environment.  Pray that each child, of any age, would honor their parents.

Tuesday: Moms.  Pray that their work both in and out of the home would be filled with satisfaction and joy.  Pray that they would have godly patience with their children.

Wednesday: Dads.  Pray that they would be involved in the lives of their children in positive and wholesome ways.  Pray that they would teach their children about God by their words and actions.

Thursday: Marriage.  Pray that the marriages in our congregation and community would be strengthened and protected.  Pray that both husband and wife would feel loved and valued.

Friday: Grandparents.  Pray that they would be valued members of the family and church congregation.  Pray that their wisdom and experience would be passed on to the next generation.

Saturday:  Single Adults.  Some are single by choice, some not.  Pray that each would be filled with great peace and hope as they serve God and rely on Him to surround them with healthy relationships.