Participants:
Series Code: ILL
Program Code: ILL230012S
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00:14 Praise the Lord, everyone.
00:15 Welcome to Imperative Life Lessons. 00:18 I'm Pr. Ryan Johnson. 00:20 There is a promise for every man and woman in the Bible. 00:27 We'll never exhaust them, and every scenario of life 00:32 there's a promise for that how- ever, with time and experience 00:36 one often finds that he or she relies upon a handful of verses 00:43 which have accompanied that person through the hardest 00:45 of times, you know what I mean, the darkest night 00:48 and under the heaviest of loads. 00:50 The book of Psalms, our focus today is full of 00:56 special promises because the writer is no stranger 01:00 to the need for forgiveness, the need for strength, 01:03 or the need for deliverance. 01:06 These vulnerabilities make the Psalms so, so applicable 01:12 you know. Because we can identify. 01:15 I'd like to tell the story of how I became intimately familiar 01:21 with the promises of the 3rd Psalm. 01:26 It was at the end of service at the Paradise Seventh-day 01:31 Adventist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I just finished 01:36 the sermon, and it was time for one of the customs that we 01:40 developed over the years. 01:41 Immediately following service we would invite people 01:45 to come down and pray with the Pastoral and Elders staff. 01:50 And sometimes this only meant a person or two coming to 01:53 shake hands and offer a prayer request, but many times 01:57 many times, we pray with people for hours. 02:00 People would come by the dozens and they'd wait as long 02:04 as necessary to present their petitions to God. 02:07 Now this particular Sabbath we prayed and we prayed 02:12 and we prayed along with the elders, my wife Anissa 02:16 found a corner and prayed with people. 02:19 There were pockets of people praying all over the sanctuary 02:23 isn't that a beautiful thing to imagine? 02:25 And during this time, I received a text message from a 02:29 good friend of ours who attends one of the other churches. 02:33 This sister, Dr. Linda Ammons is a Professor of Law, 02:38 you're not going to believe this, for whom the 02:41 President of the United States used to work 02:45 in his days as a senator, she used to be his boss. 02:48 So indeed Anissa and I are super blessed to know Dr. Ammons. 02:53 It was not unusual for me to text her though 02:56 cause I'm always calling her and seeking her experience 02:59 and her advice on stuff, but the text that I had received 03:03 on that Sabbath, simply read, call me as soon as you can. 03:08 And I took that request to be an acknowledgement 03:13 to the fact that we were going to be praying for a long time 03:17 and my earliest convenience would be in a few hours. 03:20 And I tell you, this is a mistake that I will never 03:23 make again because it only would have taken a minute 03:27 to help her, it turned out. 03:30 But I remember sitting on the wooden steps of the pulpit 03:33 my jacket slung over my knee after dismissing the group 03:38 with a word of encouragement, you always got to 03:40 say encouraging things. 03:42 I gathered my belongings in preparation to leave and then 03:45 like we all do, I checked my phone for any new messages. 03:49 And there were two new messages, each was from a different 03:53 individual informing me that Dr. Ammons had been hospitalized. 04:00 I dropped everything, and I headed out with my wife. 04:06 Upon arriving at the hospital I found several members 04:12 from the Abundant Life Church already there. 04:15 And fully entering the room, I got a good look at the 04:20 professor, and my heart broke, here was one of the most 04:27 brilliant people I have ever met sagging in bed. 04:32 One side of her mouth hanging lower than the other 04:36 and a bunch of other things which I am sure you can imagine. 04:40 So, I asked if it had been a stroke? 04:43 And it had not been, it turns out she'd been taking 04:46 blood thinners for something else, but she had accidentally 04:51 bumped her head when getting out of her car. 04:54 And that bump, combined with the meds caused an 04:59 intracranial bleed, and when she texted me it was to report 05:04 a severe headache, and to ask about whether or not she needed 05:09 to go to the hospital. And as I have stated, 05:12 I would never make that mistake again. 05:15 Well, now a pastor is in the room and the people need 05:21 encouragement, you ever been there? Doesn't have to be 05:24 a pastor, sometimes God calls on ya to bring the Word of God 05:28 But infinitely more than that, the sister needs a healing 05:32 Now I've learned from my mentor Pastor Ezra Mendinghall, 05:36 that in times like these, one should allow the Word of God 05:41 to do the speaking. So I had my trusty Bible, this one right here 05:46 first purchased this in grad school for $8.00, and now it's 05:50 priceless to me, and opening it I wonder, which promise 05:56 shall I read? Shall I read James 5 where we are 06:00 instructed to call for the elders and to anoint with oil? 06:04 Or maybe I ought to read a classic such as 06:08 The Martyr's Song, which is number 23. 06:11 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 06:14 death, I will fear no evil, you know that one 06:17 and these are fine as are the others. 06:20 but I meant it when I stated earlier, that after a few battles 06:24 one tends to have one's favorites, tested and tried, 06:30 faith builders, you know. 06:32 And for me, these scenarios it's Psalms 3 06:39 so I turn there with haste and approaching the bed 06:43 I placed a hand on the professor's hand and I looked 06:48 into her unfocused eyes... My dear sister, I began 06:55 it's Ryan here, I'm going to read you a text 06:59 which has carried many in your situation right on to victory. 07:03 it is Psalms chapter three and then adding my other hand 07:09 I stepped closer and I told her, now before I read the Psalms 07:15 allow me sister to share with you how I first came to know it. 07:21 And friends I proceeded to tell her, shall I tell you? 07:28 Well, okay, lets travel further back in time. 07:35 Father in Heaven, Be with us as we examine 07:39 your word, In Thy name, Amen. 07:42 It was a stormy Thursday and the church power had gone out 07:49 numerous times, I couldn't know it then, 07:51 but the following day, the spire, the steeple of the church 07:55 would get hit by lightning completely messing up the 07:59 circuitry that controlled the lighting in the church. 08:02 But before all that, my senior pastor at that time 08:07 came into my office to show me an emergency text that 08:11 he had received. One of the young ladies of our congregation 08:15 was suffering from some strange neurological symptoms 08:20 and she was currently in the hospital awaiting results. 08:24 We piled into his vehicle and we made our way in the rain 08:28 and the storm to the ER and when we entered the room 08:31 the family was quietly praying with the lights dimmed. 08:35 While the young woman sat in bed, she looked perfectly fine 08:41 except for a little deviation of one eye, and when she 08:46 stuck out her tongue, it involuntary shot to the 08:52 right side and eventually the imaging results would confirm 08:57 that she had a serious neurological problem 09:01 that required emergency surgery. 09:04 And unfortunately, there was no surgeon in Nevada that 09:07 had the skill, only a doctor in Utah, and his availability 09:12 was in question. 09:14 But we realized that there was yet another doctor 09:18 who specializes in all areas of human healing 09:21 a great physician whose availability never in question 09:26 so without delay. We gathered around the girl's bed 09:30 her momma, her daddy, the Senior Pastor and myself. 09:35 And we prayed one by one, but then to read promises, 09:42 my pastoral companion went first reading promises 09:47 for strength and healing, and I was turning in the scriptures 09:51 thinking I was going to go to Psalm 22, But we are assured 09:56 that when we cry unto God, He hears, but as I passed over 10:02 Psalms three, a single word caught my eye, hmm, 10:08 after stopping to investigate, this became the promise 10:13 that I read that day. 10:16 Psalm three is a lament of David, when he was fleeing 10:21 from his son Absalom, the Psalm opens with David 10:25 acknowledging the number of enemies that he faces 10:28 and their lying claim that God cannot save them. 10:32 However, David declares his trust in God's protection 10:37 and his confidence that God will answer his prayers. 10:40 You know, why don't we just go ahead and experience 10:44 Psalms 3 for ourselves, verse 1. 11:04 In verses 1 and 2, David is admitting his affliction 11:08 and how the nay-sayers think his situation even beyond 11:12 God's ability. While David had family and political issues 11:17 you gotta agree that the pattern of problem after problem 11:21 which he endures is a lot like what some of us go through, 11:25 especially with our health. 11:27 Problem after problem increased, troubled, a failed 11:34 support system. Verse 4. 11:48 Here we see the assurance that the doubt of others 11:53 God hears when we cry unto Him. 11:56 And verse 5 speaks for itself. 11:58 I lay down and the Lord sustained me. 12:01 Have you ever truly wondered if your eyes would see the 12:05 dawn of another day? I know some of you certainly have, 12:09 you've been there. 12:10 Verse 6. 12:42 This reminds us of Psalm 91 where it is stated 12:45 that 10,000 shall fall, but it would not affect those 12:49 protected by God. And don't you just love the phrasing 12:52 of verse 7, where God punches out the enemy 12:55 I love it! 12:57 And verse 8 is a proclamation of faith, 12:59 a benediction of sorts and a blessing. Amen. 13:04 But you will notice that I skipped verse 3. 13:10 Yeah, I want to focus on verse 3 now 13:14 because it contains the word that jumped out to me. 13:20 That evening, as we prayed over the young woman on a stormy day. 13:27 It says... 13:44 It's understandable that David the soldier often finds 13:52 battlefield analogies to be the most descriptive 13:56 of his feelings. In the same manner, he often discusses 14:00 shepherding, because he was a shepherd. 14:03 He'd been a soldier, and in this verse, the shield of God 14:06 is steadfast and dependable. In a battle, a soldier, information 14:13 provided cover for his brother. 14:15 God is the cover for us, but then it states God is the 14:23 lifter of our head. It was the word head that caught my eye, 14:32 because it was a head miracle that we needed that evening. 14:38 Yes, I realize that in this Psalm David had his head 14:45 (rosch), hung in shame and God restores it, God lifts it up. 14:52 I mean, of course, that's how God is, we bear the shame of sin 14:57 yet He restores us, He lifts us up. 15:00 The lifting of the head here is metaphorical in this verse 15:06 but I didn't care, metaphorical or not, we had a young woman 15:10 in need of a miracle, and as I read that verse, I realized 15:17 something. In order for God to lift one's head 15:24 He has to put His hands on it. 15:29 So, I grabbed that verse and I claimed it as a promise, 15:34 Lord, lift this girl's head, place Your hand's 15:38 on this girl's head, we need a miracle, and did God heal 15:43 the young woman? 15:44 Well, let's just say, one week later, she walked in the church 15:48 on her own, and was her head held high? 15:51 You better believe it. 15:53 And so this is the story that I told Dr. Ammons 15:59 as she lay there in the hospital the history of how a 16:05 crazy preacher found a promise about shame 16:10 and claimed it for a girl's brain and of 16:15 how God came through. 16:19 Thus, I open the Word upon the hospital bed, my hand 16:27 in Dr. Ammon's hand and I reverently turned to Psalms 3, 16:34 I read it in its entirety, I skipped over verse 3 16:41 just as we did, and finally I read the third verse 16:45 and I prayed that God would put His hands on my dear sister's 16:51 head and heal it, lift it, and nothing happened. 16:59 Well, nothing that week I perceive, so, the next day, 17:06 Anissa and I returned, and we claimed the promise again. 17:10 Nothing! I even brought the young lady from the other story 17:16 over so that the mighty works of God may be seen. 17:21 Nothing! Or so we thought. 17:25 Don't you know that day by day as we went to claim the promise 17:33 of Psalms 3? Dr. Ammons was sitting just a little higher 17:39 in bed than she had been before, her eyes were 17:42 a little more focused each time and after a while, she was 17:47 able to say Amen, preacher! 17:50 You know what, just because you can't see what's going on, 17:53 doesn't mean God's not working. 17:56 I realized that what was happening is God was lifting 18:00 her head, His hands were on her. Yes! 18:05 Friends, this woman has been restored to her complete 18:11 and rather intimidating mental faculties and a doctor 18:17 might call it a recovery. 18:18 But I know an answer to prayer when I see one 18:23 and now, for matters of the head, I reach for Psalm 3. 18:31 a man with a tumor in his brain, Psalms 3, 18:35 A young lady suffering from bulimia, a first elder who had 18:43 a stroke, in these cases, I pray for the lifting of our heads. 18:52 Hey! In what way do you need God to touch your head? 18:59 Is it physical, are you suffering from the slippage 19:05 of mind that Alzheimer's and dementia brings? 19:10 The personality change that stroke can bring, 19:14 migraines, or has depression settled upon you like 19:20 a sack with infinite weight? Are you angry all the time? 19:24 Guilty, shamed, hey, if you need to talk to someone 19:29 or see a professional by God's grace, please do. 19:33 God has placed such people in our lives for that purpose 19:36 but firstly, take time to consult the Great physician, 19:41 He's still healing, you know. 19:43 The words of King David, who was also suffering when he 19:47 penned them, ring with power. Though oh Lord are a shield 19:53 for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 19:59 May God place His hands upon you? 20:04 I want to tell another story, this time, it was mid-afternoon 20:14 when a woman brought her husband to our church 20:17 for anointing, I was sitting with young Pr. Thomas Clark, 20:22 our Bibles are out, our best smiles are on, 20:25 and we asked the couple what it was that brought them in 20:28 for anointing, and the sister believed that negative 20:33 supernatural forces were at work in her husband's life. 20:36 Oh, I prayed, and then I asked the gentleman, what he 20:41 thought about that, and did he desire anointing? 20:45 And he began to explain the difficulties that he was having 20:49 including what many might consider bizarre behaviors 20:54 understandingly they were stressed and eager for the 20:59 Lord to intervene on their behalf. 21:02 So, having listened for a while it was becoming increasingly 21:06 clear that the brother may suffer from a compulsive disorder 21:12 with high amounts of anxiety it's a medical problem. 21:16 So I asked him a few screening questions you know, 21:19 to which he answered in the very high risk firmative 21:23 so brother, sister, I said to them, I'm going to pray 21:28 but before I do, I think you may benefit from 21:32 seeing a professional, praise God. 21:34 You've come seeking answers and the Lord is providing 21:38 direction, praise God, would you be willing? 21:42 And I had some references you know including the 21:45 Nedley program up at Weimar, oh, you ought to check that out 21:48 they're doing great work and they agreed. 21:51 And we prepared to pray and to follow the Biblical 21:55 instructions for anointing. As we bowed our heads 21:59 and got ready to pray the brother's breathing rate 22:05 tripled, you could hear it, sweat popped out on his brow 22:12 his eyes bulged, and he began to shake like this, 22:16 he was having a full-on anxiety attack right there. 22:22 I can't do this he cried. I got to leave, I got to leave. 22:26 Of course, I said, if you need to and as he gathered himself 22:31 to leave, I start reading, Lord, how are they increased 22:39 that trouble me, many are they that rise up against me, 22:44 many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him 22:49 in God. I skipped verse 3, I cried unto the Lord 22:54 with my voice, and He heard me out of His Holy hills. Selah. 22:58 I lay me down and slept, I awake for the Lord sustained me, 23:03 I will not be afraid of 10,000s of people that have 23:07 set themselves against me round about. 23:09 Arise, oh Lord, save me, oh my God, for thou hast smitten 23:15 all mine enemies on the cheek- bone thou hast broken the 23:20 teeth of the ungodly. 23:22 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, thy blessing is 23:26 upon thy people. Selah. And then verse 3, 23:30 But Thou, oh Lord, art a shield for me, my glory, 23:37 and the lifter of mine head. 23:40 Lift his head, I prayed, lift his head, and he didn't leave, 23:47 he did not run; he calmed. It's what I believe the gospels 23:55 will call a great calm right before our very eyes. 24:01 And together we prayed and we had an anointing 24:07 and I never saw him again. 24:11 But friends, there is power in the word of God. 24:19 These have been my experiences with this particular promise 24:26 It's so special to me that I just had to share because 24:32 in your storm, in your personal fiery trial in the prison 24:41 of your mind with the damage you have sustained 24:45 God can, God will place His hands upon your head 24:55 and lift it. 24:58 Am I promising a classic miracle? No! 25:02 I can't. But am I promising power? Oh yes. 25:09 Praise His name. 25:12 I don't know if you've ever been to an anointing 25:16 or maybe you have been anointed yourself, but I would like to 25:23 describe the process to you. 25:25 In order to illustrate why I think God lifting our head is 25:32 so amazing. We are instructed in the book of James 25:37 that if any of us are sick or afflicted, 25:41 we can call for the elders of the church and the elders 25:48 of the church will come in and we can pray to our God 25:53 and we can anoint the person with oil. 25:57 Now, there is no power in the oil, but the oil represents 26:03 the holy spirit, it says in Acts chapter 10 verse 38, 26:07 that Jesus was anointed with the holy ghost. 26:11 The oil represents the holy ghost so see this now, 26:15 a person comes in, they have called for the elders of the 26:18 church and everyone sits there together and I will 26:24 typically, ask, what is it that you are asking of the Lord? 26:27 And in faith we talk, we confess our sins to the Lord 26:31 we ask that nothing stand between us and God 26:34 Not now, Lord, not now, don't let me get in the way 26:38 of this miracle, and then we pray and put our hands 26:46 on the person and the Bible says, the Lord would 26:53 save the sick, the Lord would raise them up. 26:56 This is how we are instructed to do, put our hands on people 27:03 what this means is when we read Psalms three, 27:10 Jesus Himself is doing as we are instructed to do in James. 27:19 When He Himself puts His hands on us when we call upon Him 27:31 to be anointed by Jesus Himself, that is powerful, 27:38 powerful stuff. 27:40 Father in heaven, put your hands on us, we pray. 27:43 In Thy name, Amen! and Amen! 27:48 God be with you and Be Encouraged. |
Revised 2025-10-29