by Shannon Tillman | Nov 13, 2023 | Theology
I like the basic movie plot of the good guys win and the bad guys lose. I despise dramatic twists and turns that do not end up with the good guys on top. I hate when the movie character I like the best somehow dies saving others. I am not alright with that. I want all the good guys to have the happy ending and all the bad guys to face justice.
I think my good guy/bad guy movie ending struggles with a particular verse in Psalm 37:
…people succeed in their ways,
…they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7b)
What? Wicked schemes succeed? Evil plans prevail? God basically tells us to know that this will happen at times. It is not that the bad guys have a day in their favor, but they actually succeed! The enemy wins! I want to rewrite the script!
Yet, I know that we have all experienced this at times. There have been moments when evil won, the wicked got their way, the demons celebrated. We are left with the questions of why a good God allowed the bad guys to win. It leaves us feeling disappointed, disillusioned, and downcast.
The Lord knew there were times that this would happen in all of our lives. That is why He gave us a five-step process to help us in these times.
Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
(Psalm 37:7-8)
1. Be still
When evil attacks, we want to come up with our own plan of defense. Yet, we are told to be still. Rest. It is time to come before the Lord. Stop rehearsing the enemy’s attacks. Quit complaining and slipping into self-pity. Silence the negativity. Instead, sit before the Lord and focus on who He is. We are not to maneuver in our futile attempts to take care of ourselves. We are to invest our time with the only One who can truly help.
2. Wait patiently
We want things done on our timetable. We want resolutions now. We want the enemy destroyed in this instant. But the Lord tells us to wait. Hold on. His timing is His timing. This can only take place after we have been still before the Lord. It builds our trust in His character. Because we know that God is good, God is for us, and God loves us; we can wait on His timetable to intervene in our difficult situations.
3. Do not fret
Stop worrying for it enlarges the focus on the enemy and minimizes the focus on God. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord. That is why we are to be still and to wait patiently. Worrying will not alleviate our suffering. Instead, it consumes our time and energy rehearsing the “what ifs” of the situation.
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:27)
Worry does not add to life, but takes away. This is part of the enemy’s strategy. He already has attacked us with the situation. If we choose to worry about our circumstances, the enemy knows he can steal even more from us mentally, emotionally, and physically. This keeps us from our source of strength which is staying before the Lord. Worry puts the enemy’s situation before us instead. Stop the worry. We must refocus our minds and emotions on the Lord.
4. Refrain from anger
What happened was wrong. It was unjust. But the anger towards the situation does not change our circumstances. The anger depletes us and does not change the events. God is just. He knows what happened are “wicked schemes”. However, if we continue in our anger, we have the potential of doing evil ourselves and hurting others. The anger builds and often comes out in different ways, and sometimes erupts on others who are not even involved. Then the enemy receives more out of the situation than the original wrong because we stooped down to his wicked level. Refraining from anger protects us from contributing to even more evil.
5. Turn from wrath
When we do not refrain from anger, it will eventually grow into wrath. We want to punish those who have done wrong to us. We feel justified in our pain to harm others. However, wrath is never to be our response. We are not called to inflict our idea of justice.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
The only wrath allowed is God’s wrath. He is good, perfect, righteous, and true. Allow Him to judge. We are not called to be an instrument of His judgment. If we do, then we have sinned. Our sin has not made room for God’s wrath so the Lord will not intervene. It is when we obey and do what is right, then the Lord will move on our behalf.
For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:9)
When we are still, wait patiently, refuse to worry, refrain from anger, and turn from wrath; we demonstrate our hope in the Lord. God has promised that the evil will be destroyed and those who hope in Him will inherit the land.
Whatever difficult situation we are going through, we must hold onto this promise. God will act on our behalf. Evil will be dealt with. We will inherit the land. In other words, our situations will be worked for good and made right.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
God will work this for our good. Keep hoping in Him. His version of a “movie” ending is always God wins and the enemy is defeated! That is my kind of story!
by Kevin Tillman | Sep 11, 2023 | Theology
“It always startles me that the disciples never said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to preach.” They heard the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest man that ever lived, the Sermon on the Mount, and yet not one of them ever said, “Lord, teach me to preach.” They never said, “Lord, teach us to do miracles.” They did say, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And I’ll tell you, if there’s any prayer that needs to be prayed in the church of God today, as far as I’m concerned, it is, “Lord, teach us to pray.” – Leonard Ravenhill
Prayer is likely the most agreed upon spiritual discipline. You will not meet a believer anywhere that doesn’t believe in prayer. It crosses denominational lines. Everyone knows of prayer’s importance. But, do we REALLY believe in prayer? Before I’m considered a heretic, I think it’s a valid question. Do we really truly believe that we have a seat at the Holy of Holies and that the Creator of the Universe is listening to us and talking to us? Once again, I believe most Christians intellectually answer the question with an emphatic “yes”.
But here’s the million dollar question: Why don’t we do more of it? I mean, if we honestly believe in prayer, shouldn’t that be our ultimate pursuit. It was for Jesus! As Ravenhill stated in the quote, this was also the desire of the disciples. They could have asked for help in the miracles, healings, or preaching. But, no, they wanted to learn how to pray. “Lord, teach us to pray”. That was their desire.
I believe there are a multitude of reasons that we don’t pray more. If you’re still reading this blog, hang with me. This is not meant to be a feel guilty session. Not at all! Take this as an encouragement to seek the deeper things of the faith. Prayer is the secret, it’s the life-giving ingredient in the Christian life.
So, what are some of those oppositions to prayer?
- Spiritual Warfare – Yes, it’s real. Yes, there are forces that we cannot see. Just as real as the device in your hand now, or the computer you are staring at, is the spiritual realm surrounding you. When you “get serious” about wanting to pray, you better believe there will be opposition. Have you ever sat down to pray or study your Bible, and then suddenly every single thing on your to-do list from the last decade comes back to you? It’s happened to me. Ever had a moment to yourself, then suddenly the phone rings? It’s happened to me. Yes, Spiritual Warfare is real. Here’s the answer: Pray anyway.
- “It’s Boring” – no Christian is going to say this out loud. It sounds like heresy. But, we all know it’s been thought. The truth is, the sentiment has some merit. Why? Because some of our praying has been boring. Anyone reading this old enough to remember the old-school prayer meetings? The intention was good, but man, that was a long hour of listening to everyone’s ailments and then naming them out loud one by one. Oh, we mentioned some missionaries as well, but that was about it. To overcome “boring”, I think we need to be reminded of what prayer actually is. It’s not just a list of things we need done (though that’s not wrong to pray). But, it’s more. It’s having a seat at the table with God Himself. Prayer isn’t just petitions, prayer is relationship. It’s not just talking, it’s also listening.
- Lack of Belief. This one needs to be said, because it’s unfortunately the case. Despite being talked about and promoted, at the deepest part of many Christians, there is a lack of belief in prayer. Once again, no Christian would admit this, but if we truly believed, wouldn’t we be doing more of it?
- Busy Schedules. I get it, you get it. Life is busy. Deadlines, expectations, and unexpected crisis are a part of life. Could it be that distraction is still one of Satan’s greatest and most-used ploys? I believe so. A distracted Christian is a non-effective Christian. Ouch, that was strong! Our power, our effectiveness comes from our prayer life. The fruit we bear has a direct correlation to the amount of prayer we have.
- Last Resort. Much like lack of belief is the thought of “well if all else fails, let’s pray”. NO! Pray first, pray last. Pray!
Prayer is without a doubt the most talked about discipline in Christianity, but in my opinion, likely the least practiced. Prayer is also I believe the single most important of all the spiritual disciplines. I know there may be some push back on that statement. I mean Bible reading is important as well right? Well yes, I won’t disagree. But, how deep is our understanding of the Word of God without prayer? Didn’t the Bible instruct us to ASK the Holy Spirit it to teach us? Once again, not picking a fight here, Bible Study is important, but so is prayer.
As a long time Christian, a long time church-goer, and someone that’s been in the ministry for 34 years now (geez I’m old) … I believe I still need to learn more about prayer. “Lord, teach me to pray”. I hope that is your heart cry as well. I want to end this blog post for those of you still reading with a statement that might ruffle a few feathers. It’s not meant to be controversial, but it is meant to be challenging. I really believe we have given way too much lip-service to prayer, and not enough actual prayer. We’ve modeled that in every area of Christianity. Prayer time in the home is relegated to a quickie before meals. For the super spiritual, there’s the night time prayers. But still, is that enough? In our services, we pray, but it’s in many cases the opening hello, and the closing good-bye. Can I remind us all that Jesus himself that my church is to be a “house of prayer”. He didn’t say cool music, deep preaching, fellowship, or anything else. Jesus said a “house of prayer”. Don’t worry, I’m not saying singing and preaching are bad. The Bible calls for that as well. But, shouldn’t prayer be given more than just at the maximum 5 minutes per service?
Here’s my line in the sand. By the way, many of these blog posts I’ve posted were written months ago, and scheduled for posting. Not this one. I’m typing this late on a Sunday night, and it’s posting on Monday morning. This is truly where I’m at in my walk right now. Going forward, my life and my ministry will be prayer centered and prayer focused. If God gives me another church position, it will be with prayer at the core. Staff meetings will be a lot of praying, and yes, still some planning. Services, will be preaching and singing, but a lot more praying. No matter what, my life is going to be a great deal more praying.
As the days get darker, and the times seem heavy, I encourage you to take this challenge as well. Call out to God with me, “Lord, teach us to pray”!
by Kevin Tillman | Aug 28, 2023 | Theology
“A religion, even popular Christianity, could enjoy a boom altogether divorced from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and so leave the church of the next generation worse off than it would have been if the boom had never occurred. I believe that the imperative need of the day is not simply revival, but a radical reformation that will go to the root of our moral and spiritual maladies and deal with causes rather than with consequences, with the disease rather than with symptoms.”
A.W. Tozer
This A.W. Tozer quote is from 1959, but it’s even more relevant today. Church we don’t need “old-time religion”. We need radical reformation! What does this mean? What does this look like? I believe Christianity in America for many years has been focused on the “consequences” and the “symptoms” as Tozer called them… Even in my own church background we have often focused on righteous living, on the externals of the faith… we fix the visible sins and we ACT like people of God. The problem is that this is completely external. As a group of people (a church) begin to do this, it becomes the norm. It then becomes “group think”. We slowly develop a false theology and a false thinking. We equate our righteous living to a movement of God, when in actuality, it is just our own attempts to live right. This is not far from the lives the Pharisees lived. We give them such a bad name in sermons, but in actuality the Pharisees were very “righteous” guys. They lived outwardly very devout lives. Why do we condemn them? Because they were missing the point. That is what my fear is for the American church. The “disease” that Tozer mentions is us I believe. It’s not unrighteous living, it might even be righteous living. It is us depending on our own abilities rather than a complete transforming work by the Spirit of God. So, what am I looking to happen? I’m not sure exactly to be honest.. but it involves the word “more”… I just hear stories of supernatural movements of God happening all around the world… things that cannot be explained any other way than simply saying “God did this”… That is what I’m looking for! How do I (we) get there? I think we have to start with a discontent with status quo Christianity first.. We have to not settle for simple religion… Just because it has been done this way for the last however many years, and just because it is the norm all around us, doesn’t necessarily make it authentic…. More – that’s what I’m looking for!
by Shannon Tillman | Aug 21, 2023 | Theology
It was not supposed to be a big deal. It was not a hurricane, just a series of storms. Yet for the first time that I recall, they closed the road out of my grandparents’ neighborhood. I was trapped. All I could do was wonder about how my place was faring in the bad weather. I was stuck for over 24 hours. As I made my way carefully back home, I discovered that my entire house flooded. Every room had somewhere between eight to twelve inches of water. I found out later that the pump across the street stopped working. The backed-up drains caused water and sewer to pour into the house. The stench was unbearable.
I lost almost everything I own.
As I dug through the remains of what were once my valuables, I was reminded of my family’s favorite song, Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman:
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
I felt the Lord say, “Shannon, you sing this song but will you live the lyrics?” I looked in the faces of my family, who had just arrived for a vacation in “sunny Florida”. They were now helping me go through a mess of sewer water-stained items, attempting to salvage what could be saved and documenting what was lost. This was my opportunity to live what we love to sing. I reviewed the story of Job with my little niece and said, “God is still good. We will trust Him. Job lost everything, but I still have you. Job praised God and said, “The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord. We shall do the same.”
It is not easy. We cried over the Christmas ornaments which I had received every year since birth from family members. They used to decorate my tree with their bright colors but now some of them looked more like mush. The most painful part was the prayer journals and Bible studies that I had saved since I was in junior high. The blurred pages blurred more with my tears as my hopes to pass them on were literally washed away. Some of the pictures from over the years were now stuck together and others had smeared leaving blurred images where once smiles reminded me of better times. The items brought back a host of memories, which is all I have left, since most of them will be placed into the dumpster.
I recall a book I read called Fear No Evil by Brady Boyd, a pastor in Colorado. (I would directly quote the book for you, however, the book is now in the trash and I will not go dumpster diving in sewer water stuff!) Pastor Boyd discussed with his church that he would no longer sing the lyrics of worship songs unless he could honestly attest in his heart that he was living them. How often I have just freely sang without truly living the message behind the words! I no longer want to do so.
In the midst of sewer water, in the midst of the stench, in the midst of loss, I will join with Job who:
…arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
(Job 1:20-22)
Yes, Lord, blessed be Your Name…even in sewer water!
by Shannon Tillman | Jun 26, 2023 | Theology
My grandmother and I were sitting in a doctor’s office when I saw Jesus. I did not actually witness Jesus dressed in a white robe and wearing some cool sandals, although I did see a lady wearing rope sandals which I could not imagine how they could be comfortable. No, the “Jesus” I saw was a woman wearing non-flattering scrubs with tennis shoes. But she did remind me of Jesus.
It all began when an elderly lady was wheeled from a nursing home van into the lobby. She looked to be well over a hundred, wearing her Mumu and sporting comfortable slippers (I wish I knew the woman’s age. I would like to find out when I can wear slippers out of the house and no one thinks it is out of place.) She was brought in and set in a space that would accommodate her wheelchair. She just sat with her eyes closed, not making a sound. The worker from the nursing home went to sign her in and complete paper work. Upon finishing the tasks, the nursing home attendant went and sat by the elderly lady in the wheelchair. The worker gently put her hand on the woman’s arm. The woman in the wheelchair blinded by age, smiled and said, “I did not know anyone was with me.” She seemed so appreciative to have someone nearby and asked, “Who are you?” The worker in the scrubs and tennis shoes simply answered, “It’s me, Sam.” The elderly adult smiled and responded, “Oh, Sam.” And then she began to chat happily with the attendant she obviously knew well.
Tears came to my eyes at the tender exchange. My mind flooded to times in my life when I felt alone, physically unwell, confused, disoriented. But suddenly my heart would feel a gentle touch followed by inaudible words, “It’s me, Jesus.” As I am reminded by His presence I can smile and share my heart, my burdens with Him for I am not alone. No, I cannot actually see Him, but just like the woman in the wheelchair, to know someone who cares for you is with you, it makes the difficult circumstances easier to bear.
He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you…
Hebrews 13:5b
I have heard this verse so often that I forget the wonder of it all. The Lord God Himself is with me. He encourages, strengthens, comforts, rejoices, mourns with me. I am not alone. This verse is quoted without context so often that we may forget the purpose of why it was shared with us. Jesus wants us to know that He is always with us so
…that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?
Hebrews 13:6
A woman in a wheelchair had confidence in facing the doctor because Sam was with her. We have confidence to face any situation, whatever it may be, for the Lord who will not forsake us, will also help us. His presence and His power are constant variables in our lives.
As I sat there in the doctors’ office, facing some new circumstances in regards to my grandparent’s health, Jesus gave me a vivid picture of His encouraging presence as I navigate through this difficult time. “It’s Jesus. I am with you. I will not leave you. I will help you.” He is my confidence and He let a sweet nurse attendant remind me of this in a vivid way.
by Kevin Tillman | Jun 19, 2023 | Theology
“Many Christians have what we might call a “cultural holiness.” They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.”
Jerry Bridges
Comparison is so dangerous. I sometimes wish I could live out the Billy Madison movie. If I could go back to elementary school now I would be a rock star. Playground time would be dominated by this guy! Oh, and just try and take my milk money away. I’d be “the man”, because, well, I am a man. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m not sure I would fair so well with a group of Marines fresh out of boot camp. Actually, that’s a prideful understatement. I KNOW I wouldn’t fair too well. I would be completely owned in that scenario. I’m the same person, I’m just in two different contexts. I think this might be the struggle that we are seeing today. Our standard has dropped. We are in the game of comparison. Thoughts such as, “well, I know it’s not right, but compared to many of my other Christian friends I’m not so bad.” Or, how about, “well at least I didn’t ….”. The standard of holiness has never changed, it remains the same. Sure, we will never completely live up to that standard, but isn’t that the goal still? Yes, we live under grace and we are forgiven, but does that negate holiness? Yes, our holiness is only completed in the saving work of the cross, but don’t we have a responsibility to live holy lives? I say yes. It’s a fight everyday, I get that, but it’s a fight we need to stay in. At the very least we should make sure we are comparing ourselves to the right standard.
