Instead of Arguing, Why Not Just Ask God?

When you don’t know what to do next, pray. When you have to make a decision, ask the Lord for the right answer. When you can’t reach an agreement with someone, don’t insist on your way or cave in to the other person’s demands. Instead, ask yourself, “What does God want?” Do what He wants rather than what you or anyone else desires.

This seems to be a spiritually mature way to handle conflicts. And it’s simple, too. Once you know the will of God, you just do it. Obeying the Lord can be tough, but at least you’re doing the right thing. It might not be pleasant, but you have God’s approval.

So why didn’t Paul and Barnabas do this? These apostles had been commissioned by the Holy Spirit and the church in Antioch to preach the gospel. They obeyed and traveled through Cyprus, parts of modern-day Turkey, and Syria, announcing that Jesus was the Messiah. People converted to Christ and churches were planted. Quite an adventure!

Early in the journey, however, a young helper by the name of John Mark (a cousin of Barnabas) left them. The Bible doesn’t indicate his motivation for leaving, only that he returned soon after starting out with Paul and Barnabas. Maybe the work was harder than John Mark bargained for, or maybe he was scared of the difficulties. Whatever the reason, Paul and Barnabas continued without him, and God blessed their efforts with success.

Sometime later, the apostles decided to revisit the churches they’d started. Naturally, the question arose, “Should we take John Mark with us?” Barnabas wanted to give his cousin a second chance but Paul must have felt that the risk was too great. Not worth it.

They talked it out but got nowhere. They debated, but fruitlessly. Things got heated, but no breakthrough. Finally, they agreed to separate. Barnabas got his wish; he took John Mark to Cyprus. Paul followed a different path; he teamed up with a Christian named Silas and headed out for Turkey.

Why didn’t they pray about the problem? Instead of arguing, or even conversing, why didn’t they just ask God if He wanted John Mark to join them or not?

Were Barnabas and Paul spiritually stunted? Did anger override their good judgment? Was the Lord displeased with them?

I don’t think so. God must have honored their deliberations because Paul began many new churches in regions that had never been exposed to the gospel. By anyone’s standards, he was successful.

And while the Bible doesn’t describe Barnabas’ trip with John Mark, he probably trained and mentored him. That young man so grew in ministry that even Paul eventually vouched for him! No hard feelings!

So what does this teach us about conflicts, tough choices, and challenging decisions?

• Speak your mind! Know what you want and don’t be afraid to communicate it. Others may not agree with you, but at least they know where you stand.

• Show respect. If you feel strongly about your ideas, realize that other people likely feel the same way about theirs. You don’t have to agree with their point of view, but they have a right to have one.

• Don’t be afraid. I get the impression that neither Paul nor Barnabas felt that he disappointed God. Their discussions and decisions were untainted by anxiety or timidity.

• Trust the work of the Lord. When you pray about a problem, you’re demonstrating that you trust God with your trials. But do you trust what He’s already done in your life? Do you value the new heart He’s given you? Do you rely on the Holy Spirit who indwells you? If you do, you’re free to make decisions without worrying about whether or not you’re in God’s will. That’s liberating!

Sometimes you don’t have to pray about a specific issue. God may have already given you enough for a creative solution. He did it for Paul and Barnabas; He can do it for you, too!

You Can Know That You’re Humble

“The minute you think you’re humble, you’re not.”

And then there was the guy who was proud of his humility! And why not? He must have worked hard to get it!

Humility has a tough time among the virtues. You recognize qualities like love, peacefulness, prudence, and courage in others and you probably seek to develop these ideals in yourself. You know when you’re making progress and when you’re slacking off.

But humility? How can you know if you’re humble? It would seem that, of all the virtues, humility lies beyond reach. You refute yourself just by claiming that you possess it.

Right?

Actually, no. According to the Bible, you can know that you’re humble. You can declare it without contradicting yourself. This may sound startling, but here are three examples.

Jesus

Jesus called Himself humble. He encouraged people to become His disciples and learn from Him because, as He put it, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). So Christ appreciated His own humility and didn’t hesitate to announce it.

But Jesus is God in the flesh; He’s perfect and unique. No one’s like the Lord. So can He serve as your role model?

Paul

Let’s try the apostle Paul. He recounted the trials of his ministry among the Ephesians  as “serving the Lord with all humility and with tears” (Acts 20:19). Not just humility, mind you; all humility! I guess Paul had mastered this humility business!

That makes two. Jesus and Paul proclaimed their humility devoid of arrogance.

The Church

But what about ordinary Christians?

The apostle Peter instructed all believers to “be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8). He excluded no one; those who follow Christ should be as cognizant of their humility as they are of their compassion toward others.

As odd as this may appear, the Bible insists that people can know that they’re humble. But that’s the problem – it sounds weird; it doesn’t feel right.

Maybe the real issue isn’t about humility. The deeper concern has to do with the source of spiritual values. Where do they come from? How do you become a more loving person, a more kind-hearted individual, a more patient soul?

According to Galatians 5:22-23, virtue comes from God. Christlike character derives from the Holy Spirit. If love, joy, and peace, grow in you, it will be due to the working of God’s Spirit. He deserves the credit!

If you ascribe to the Lord the development of these virtues in your life, don’t leave out humility. The Spirit fosters that grace just as He does the others.

That’s why you’re not bragging if you know you have humility. You didn’t create it; you’re merely acknowledging that virtue comes from God. Don’t deny it; instead, thank the Lord for making you more like Jesus!

Praying for People, Not Puppets

What goes through your mind when you pray for people? Do you sense that God sometimes gives you the words to speak aloud? Or maybe you know exactly what that person should think, believe, or do?

Wouldn’t prayer be easier if you were a puppeteer and could control people like they were marionettes? “Don’t do that anymore!” “Drop that bad habit!” “Be responsible!” “Love God!”

I believe that most of the time, when we pray for others, we do so out of good motives. We envision what Jesus can do and that inspires us to pray powerfully. We don’t want to settle; we want God’s best for them!

Praying for others gets tricky when those people are caught up in sin and failing God. Parents hate to see their children hang out with the wrong crowd. Friends grieve when addictions ruin the lives of their buddies. Church leaders ache over the damage caused by poor decisions made by congregation members or their families. In such cases, what’s the right way to pray? What should we ask for? The answer seems obvious: we should pray for God to change their minds!

Why not? Proverbs 21:1 says that “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” So shouldn’t we be confident that God can alter attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors? Shouldn’t this inform our prayers?

Well, this verse tells us that the Lord can turn hearts the way He wishes, but not necessarily the way we might prefer. We might not get what we want.

So what should we do? How do we deal with those whom we care about who refuse to please God?

A young minister named Timothy faced similar questions. Sent by the apostle Paul to bring order and harmony to the churches in the city of Ephesus, he found himself opposed and his authority challenged. I suppose people don’t like change! What to do?

Paul’s advice was simple: “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Great suggestions, but following these admonitions doesn’t ensure success. “If,” “perhaps,” “may” – all conditional, all tentative. Opponents may remain hostile; rebels may continue to resist. But there’s hope that repentance, like a gift, might be received and opened.

No guarantee. Maybe that’s where you’re at. You might worry about the spiritual condition of friends or relatives. You see clearly what they need, but they rebuff it.

Don’t treat them like puppets. Intercede for them even if you have no assurance that things will go the way you pray. God might grant them repentance. Isn’t that worth it? Won’t you take that risk?

Guilty of What?

“Guilty of guilt.” That’s all the assembled could convict the accused of. They had nothing else. How hollow!

I encountered that empty phrase in a humanities course in college. In addition to books and lectures, our curriculum included How Should We Then Live?, a video series which analyzed the rise and fall of Western civilization from the Christian perspective of apologist Francis Schaeffer. He quoted the line above from a depressing European film (I forget which one) to illustrate the emptiness of the philosophy of existentialism. Schaeffer insisted that when people deny God’s moral absolutes, they’re left with little more than feelings and force. One can be guilty only of guilt itself.

I was 18 or 19 at the time, but even at my age I knew that before God I bore moral responsibility. I could rattle off specific sins for which I had asked His forgiveness. I’d violated His written rules as well as my own conscience and needed God’s grace. Guilt is real because sin is real.

Yet I also recognized that my sinfulness exceeded my consciousness, that I had issues of which I was only dimly aware. How grateful I am for the indwelling Holy Spirit! Through Him I can triumph over hidden faults.

Sin and guilt include our deeds, words, and thoughts; even dispositions of which we’re only dimly aware. How far does it go?

Acts 2 described the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the first Christians. This drew the attention of the many Jews who’d traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. Some were confused, others were dismissive, but no one ignored what transpired.

Peter the apostle explained that God was keeping His promise. For centuries, the Jewish people waited for the Lord’s deliverer, the Messiah, to free them from bondage to foreign governments and to establish God’s kingdom on earth. That kingdom would be characterized by the presence of the Spirit. Peter shocked his audience when he revealed that God had sent the Messiah, Jesus, but the people had rejected the very Person they’d been seeking for generations!

This realization wounded the assembled; the Bible says they were “cut to the heart,” wondering what they might do to atone for their offense.

Peter assured them that if they turned away from sin, and trusted in Christ by being baptized, God would bless them with the Spirit, too.

Approximately 3000 people obeyed and became followers of Jesus Christ.

But were they guilty of the crucifixion? Jesus was nailed to the cross on the eve of Passover, about a month and a half before Pentecost. Probably the majority of those who heard and responded to Peter’s message hadn’t participated in the crowd that cried out for Jesus’ blood.

So what was their problem in the sight of God? Collective guilt. The elders and the rabble who pressed for the death of Jesus represented the nation; indeed, they spoke for all of us.

We’re more caught up in sin and guilt than we know! Like it or not, the temptation and fall of Adam ensnared the whole human race. But the death and resurrection of Jesus rescues anyone who calls for His help.

Perhaps the existentialists were onto something. Maybe we’re “guilty of guilt” in that, as members of the human family, we find ourselves caught up in the damage and destruction that sin causes in us and around us. Guilt pervades us. But God’s grace is greater than sin, guilt, denials, and earnest efforts. Through Christ, we have more of His goodness and blessing than we can imagine!

How to Handle the End of the World

What would you do if you were resurrected from the dead, if you conquered the grave? Where would you go? Would you traverse the galaxy? Would you show yourself to everyone who doubted you?

After His resurrection, Jesus journeyed to Hades and proclaimed His victory to a group described as “imprisoned spirits” (1 Peter 3:19). Who were they?

The Ancient World

These were the scoffers who rejected Noah’s warnings while he constructed the ark (1 Peter 3:20). When the flood waters came as God’s judgment, their world ended. Christ’s resurrection sealed the deal; sin cannot win. The horrors of the ancient world pale in contrast to the beauty of resurrection reality!

Peter recounted this story to help his fellow Christians deal with opposition to their message and their way of life. But by referring to the flood, did Peter imply that judgment was returning? Was the world coming to an end a second time?

Yes, in a way it was.

The Roman Empire

Up until the composition of Peter’s letter (right around the year 64 AD), Christians had suffered religious persecution from Jewish zealots eager to quash the news that Jesus was the Messiah. Believers also faced economic pressure and social ostracism from their Gentile relatives and neighbors.

That year, however, things changed. The emperor Nero blamed Christians for the burning of the city of Rome. The followers of Christ were now completely vulnerable. Jews, neighbors, and now government threatened them. No one had their back. Their world, what they were accustomed to, was coming to an end.

Peter wanted them to survive, even to thrive in the midst of hostility. How? They could be faithful like Noah. Christians can face persecution with confidence that Christ rules over all rulers (1 Peter 3:22), so He’d have the final word. His victory would be theirs.

The American Scene

With a torrent of social trends, Supreme Court decisions, and legal restrictions, many Christians today feel pressured like the church of the first century did. We’re like exiles in our own hometowns. We’re not as welcomed as we once were; the tolerance for the gospel and its proponents wanes.

How should we respond? Fight bad laws? Flee to the hills? Freeze in panic and indecision? I believe that the Lord wants us, like Noah, to boldly communicate His truth even while we build the ark of His church. We can show love to everyone, even to those who harm us. Especially to those who mistreat us. We can warn them of judgment but offer them grace.

The social system that we’re accustomed to may indeed be ending, but for us, it’s the harbinger of something awesome: the rule of the resurrected Christ!

Get Fired Up!

Campfires

Growing up as a Boy Scout, I camped out almost every month. Camping trips are a lot of fun, but also require some work. We had to choose a site, clear it, set up our tents or build lean-tos, and get fires going. We enjoyed all this, but if I had to pick a favorite, I’d say it was starting fires!

That reminds me of one trip in particular. After we arrived at the camp grounds, my friends and I explored the surroundings. Soon, we spotted a metal 55-gallon drum cut in half from top to bottom. We figured it would make a great container for the fire that we eventually needed to build.

So we dragged it back and then gathered the tinder, kindling, twigs, and branches. We also chopped up some wood and set it all aside. Before dinner, we arranged everything and lit the fire hoping that the drum would help.

Well, it did. Too well!

We forgot that the fire would heat up the metal drum. It got so hot we couldn’t get near it for a while. With flames roaring out of the drum, it looked great, but only from a distance!

Eventually, the fire died down enough so we could cook our dinner on the coals.

Sometimes, fires are just too hot!

But other times, they’re too cold. Just not enough heat to cook the food or warm up cold hands.

Spiritual Fires

Timothy, the young apostle-in-training, faced something like this. Paul had dispatched him to the city of Ephesus to rein in bad teaching that was undermining the stability of the churches and their leaders. To succeed, Timothy needed to get fired up! So Paul wrote him this admonition: “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6 [NKJV]).

The Greek verb translated “stir up” is anazopurein. It’s actually three words joined together.

• ana = again
• zoe = life
• pur = fire

When you combine these, you get something like, “make it a living fire again.” Spiritual life is like a fire; it gives off heat and light but it can wax dim and cool.

When our spiritual fervor consists of little more than embers, what can we do to get on fire again? Well, fires need three things:

• fuel
• air
• space

We start by turning over the charred logs and stirring up the embers. Then, we sweep out the dust that’s clogging air passages. After that, we add fresh wood. Finally, we blow on the embers so the small flames can catch the new wood and begin to burn brightly. It takes time, but it works.

Our spiritual life is similar. If you feel burned out, Jesus is encouraging you to stoke the embers in your heart. Add the fuel of His Word and the breath of His Spirit; declutter your soul, and you’ll come alive in no time! Make your passion for Christ a living fire again!

Creativity Within Limits

I just returned from a week-long trip with the Honor Society, our church’s seniors group. We visited sites in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee before heading back to Wisconsin. While it would take me a while to describe all our experiences, one thing stood out to me: creativity thrives within limits. Here’s what I mean.

The Amish

In an Amish community in Illinois, we enjoyed Half-Stitched, a musical about quilts (yes, quilts!). We also got to eat a wonderful Amish dinner of simple but tasteful foods like chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn, among other items. Nothing fancy, but their meals are wholesome; they’re good for you!

We also learned how the Amish make quilts out of scraps. They waste nothing and the results of their patient labors are remarkable!

Through their meals and their quilts, the Amish show that you don’t need unusual materials or exotic equipment to produce something special. Handled with love and wisdom, scraps and common farm foods can impress and bless.

The Acrobats

Down in Branson, MO, we saw a show put on by a company of acrobats from China. They ranged from as young as 11 to probably the mid or late 20s. I was surprised that the performers didn’t look especially athletic – trim, yes, but not muscular. Yet they demonstrated feats of flexibility and body control that astounded us. One held onto a pole and mimicked a flag; others did somersaults so quickly they were like flywheels.

Furthermore, they handled mistakes well. With elegance and aplomb, the acrobats corrected any mishaps on the spot and moved on seamlessly. They’ve trained themselves to handle problems.

I could tell that the acrobats practiced a lot. Through their focus and dedication, they could perform moves that most professional athletes would envy. Through concentration and dedication, they were able to display remarkable physical and theatrical creativity.

Flame Painting

At the Ozark Folk Center in Arkansas, I witnessed a live demonstration of copper flame painting. By using a blowtorch, artist Racheal Matthews drew out unexpected colors in the otherwise plain metal.  Most of them are permanent, but some colors, like magenta, disappear. Racheal told me that she’d learned to accept that.

I would never have guessed that a rainbow of colors could derive from such an ordinary metal, but they were always there, just waiting to be discovered!

The Creativity of Christ

Jesus embodies the kind of creativity illustrated in crafts and circuses. He told His disciples, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17 [NIV]). Rather than feeling suffocated by God’s rules, Jesus fulfills them. He reveals to us what life can look like and how creative we can be.

If you feel hemmed in by circumstances, skills, or resources, don’t despair. Accept the limitations, but investigate how the Spirit of God might enrich you right where you are. Let Him show you more than you can imagine. Christ promises fulfillment for those who follow Him, so enjoy the trip!

What Football Can Teach Us About Church

Now that the NFL’s season has begun, I’d like to declare what I’ve long believed: The offensive line is the most important unit in football. I realize that the guards, tackles, and centers who make up these lines may lack the talents of those in the “skill positions” like wide receivers and quarterbacks. Nevertheless, I maintain that no unit in football is more crucial to its team than the offensive line. Here’s why.

• The players who make up the line protect the quarterback. Since the quarterback touches the ball on almost every single offensive play, no player more influences the team’s chances of success than does the quarterback. By protecting him, the offensive line helps the team win.

• The offensive line helps their teammates catch passes. Opposing defenses can’t cover receivers for a long time. Eventually, receivers find a way to get open. And even an average quarterback can hit an open receiver. Good offensive lines create that time.

• Offensive lines make the running game happen. Just about any NFL running back can burst through wide open hole in the defense. Good offensive lines create those openings.

• When the offense line does its job well, the offense keeps possession of the ball for a long while, and this wears out the defense. Late in the game, they’re running on fumes.

• They even help their own team’s defensive unit. How? After scoring, the other team gets the ball. If that team has fallen behind in the score, it will have to abandon the running game and rely on passing for quick scores. Since the defense knows this, those players can just step back and cover the receivers. Their job got a little easier.

Convinced? I hope so!

Here’s another claim: Churches are like football teams –  they have lots of positions and players.

So what’s the most important unit in a church?

I don’t know but I think God gave us some clues.

• The members of that team get along really well. They know each other and they trust each other. Because they depend on one another, they’re able to do more together than what they could do on their own.

• They accept the fact that there’s not much glamour in their position. Offensive linemen don’t get the media attention the way the skill players do, but they don’t mind. They know the value of their contributions and they’re proud of it. Christians who can work comfortably away from the limelight – they’re worth their weight in gold!

• They make others successful and they’re happy about it. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a running back burst through the line for a touchdown or a wide receiver make an amazing catch in the end zone. And who’s there to greet them? The offensive line! Likewise, good Christians are thrilled when fellow believers achieve something for the Lord. They share in those victories.

Any group of people who exhibits these qualities is the most important unit in their church. And it’s not just my opinion. According to Jesus, they’re the greatest.

Defending Difficult Decisions

The Test

It was only a matter of time. Back in June, when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, the effects of that opinion began to ripple across the nation. Some celebrated; others disapproved. Conflict was inevitable.

Enter Kim Davis, the clerk of Rowan County in Kentucky. One of her official duties was to sign and issue marriage licenses. She maintained that her conscience and religious beliefs wouldn’t permit her to dispense them to gay and lesbian couples.

According to Christian attorney David French, Davis had only three options: resign her position, comply with the Supreme Court verdict, or resist. She chose resistance which earned her a stay in jail for about a week. Kim’s out now, so we’ll see what happens next, but I’m sure that this isn’t over.

Was Kim Davis right? If you were in her shoes, what would you have done?

The Helper

Before His own trial, Jesus prepared His disciples by teaching them to rely on the Holy Spirit. He labeled the Spirit, “the Paraclete,” which means, “one called alongside.” When we Christians feel the burden of living for the Lord in a society that rejects Him, the Spirit will be right by our side.

To do what?

This word “Paraclete,” translated as “Comforter” in some Bible versions, can also refer to an attorney. In other words, when we go through trials, the Spirit of God will serve as our defense lawyer!

As the Paraclete, here’s what God’s Spirit will do for us:

• He will use his wisdom to help us decide whether to resign, comply, or resist.

• He will defend us. When we make our decision, the Spirit will back us up and argue our case.

• He will support us regardless of the outcome. Good lawyers stick with their clients regardless of how their cases turn out. We have the assurance that the Spirit will remain with us no matter what the future holds.

The Church

In light of what Christ promised us, how should we respond?

• If you’re going through a trial, take comfort that you’re not alone. By His Spirit, God is truly with you.

• Take a stand. In the American legal system, those appearing before a court have to declare themselves guilty or not guilty. The Holy Spirit will defend you but He won’t substitute for you.

• If you know of other Christians going through such predicaments, don’t criticize their decisions. Support them instead! Treat them the way the Spirit treats you. We don’t have all the answers and we don’t need to. It’s enough for us to offer fellow pilgrims the love of Jesus and the comfort of His Spirit.

So in the midst of your trials, call on God’s Spirit. He will help you. And when you learn of brothers and sisters in Christ going through turmoil, call out to God for them. Trust that God’s Spirit will help them, too.

God Goes to the Movies

Have you noticed the rush of Christian based, Gospel centered movies that have come out in theaters throughout North America over the last year? From “Heaven is For Real”, to “Do You Believe”, to last year’s smash spring summer run movie “God’s Not Dead” (that out grossed non biblical defamatory movies like “Noah” and the sin atoning, deity lite “Son of Man”), to movies this year such as “90 Minutes in Heaven” and January 2016 release of “Risen” an epic depiction of Jesus’ Resurrection and the weeks that followed from a non-believer Roman perspective. And let’s not forget last spring’s 12 week NBC miniseries, “A.D.” that was the highest rated and most watched TV show each week that it ran.

Many people including myself applaud the Hollywood industry for finally rediscovering the Christian market. As many of the above movies mentioned, did well in first and second run theaters. Many also sold out or near sold out audiences. But more so than that, it is as if this could be a last dash sprint in what has been a marathon race to get the Gospel out before the race is over. And God is getting to North Americans right where we live; passive, consumer driven entertainment. Or as if God has said, the Gospel isn’t getting out loud enough, clear enough, or in wide enough scope through the Churches, so I’m going to the movies and taking the Gospel with me. It really is remarkable, when you think about the phenomena that Christ based movies and the A.D. TV series have been in recent months and how well they’ve done financially and in viewership.

Which tells us, there is a spiritual hunger, a market, a want and desire for Christ based, gospel movies of real life hope, help, healing, endurance, peaceful presence and divine power, in people’s lives, believers and non-believers alike.

While there is room for scriptural based, socio-spiritual, so called “social gospel” messages, and sermon series on wisdom, getting along with people inside and outside the church, how to live a better life, loving our neighbors and communities and how God generally loves everyone.  Maybe we’re communicating too many generalized self-help, spiritualistic social messages about the horizon of our own humanity instead of depicting a relationship higher than the horizon? Maybe people want to look higher than the horizon of the newest church building? Maybe the Gospel of personal responsibility to turn to the God of unconditional love who has graciously atoned for sin and offers salvation in Jesus Christ is more self-evident, relevant and wanted in our communities than we think? Maybe they’re ready to look at Heaven & Hell issues again in relationship to their own lives? Maybe there’s been so much social breakdown in families and communities that people are ready for God again? And maybe God has circumvented the overly socialized, internalized, self-conscious, naval gazing local churches that aren’t preaching this foundation to eternal life, by going to the movies? Or maybe all of these Christian Gospel based movies are much more of a help to the Church than we realize or are utilizing?

Which brings me to the movie “War Room” a smash hit must see, in your face, clearly Christian based, no punches pulled, entertaining and encouraging power of prayer movie because real life matters. It’s wonderfully written. Excellently portrayed and acted. Heart touching. The vast majority of the movie makes up for the couple of corny scenes. And I want to be like “Miss Clara” now before I grow old. She’s the type of inspired realistic Christian every Christian ought to be. A full house verbally interacted with the movie throughout, followed by robust applause at the end. Much like the “God’s Not Dead” movie, last year. Go see War Room today and let it challenge, change and revive the way you pray!