The Applause of Heaven

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The Search for Significance

We long for applause.

Our search for significance craves approval.

Whose applause do you seek?

Whose applause ultimately matters?

What is Applause?

Applause: Marked commendation; acclaim; expressed public approval (as by the clapping of hands) (MW Collegiate Dict., 11th ED)

Virtue Signaling

We are living through an epidemic of “virtue signaling”.

Virtue Signaling: The attempt to show other people that you are a good person, for example by expressing opinions that will be acceptable to them, especially on social media” (The Cambridge Dictionary)

People want to be applauded for conforming to a popular moral or ethical position.

Employers and employees are pressured to adopt unbiblical moral standards or else be “cancelled”, demoted, or terminated.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Applause of this World

The appraisal of this world is inaccurate.

The applause of this world is fickle — erratic, changeable, inconstant.

The applause of this world does not win the applause of heaven.

Matthew 6:2 NKJV

Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:5 NKJV

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:16 NKJV

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

The Applause of Heaven

We must seek the way of heaven to receive the applause of heaven.

Matthew 6:3–4 NKJV

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Matthew 6:6 NKJV

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:17–18 NKJV

But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

We cannot please God if we seek to please men.

Galatians 1:10 NKJV

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

We cannot receive honor from God if we seek honor from man.

John 5:41–47 NKJV

“I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

We cannot finish our earthly race unless we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and seek the applause of heaven.

Hebrews 12:1–3 NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Stephen pleased God and won the applause of heaven.

Acts 7:54–60 NKJV

Response to the Word

Will you seek to please this world or to please God?

Will you seek the applause of this world or of heaven?

If you have not, will you give your life to Jesus today?

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Related Media

Related Sermons