Living For The Applause Of One

Living For The Applause Of One

From LifePoint Church | Norfolk, NE by LifePoint Church

April 13, 2026 · 41 min

About this episode

This episode challenges listeners to examine their motives behind spiritual practices like giving, praying, and fasting, emphasizing the importance of pursuing intimacy with God over seeking human approval.

We often think we're doing the right things—giving generously, praying faithfully, even fasting—but Jesus challenges us to examine something deeper: our motives. In Matthew 6, we're confronted with a piercing question that cuts through our religious activities: who are we really doing this for? Are we seeking the applause of people around us, or are we genuinely pursuing intimacy with God? This passage reveals that the same act of giving, praying, or fasting can either draw us closer to God or become a performance for human approval. The reward we receive depends entirely on our audience. When Jesus says 'when you give,' 'when you pray,' and 'when you fast,' He's not making suggestions—He's assuming these disciplines are part of our lives. But He warns us against the subtle trap of practicing righteousness to be seen by others. The challenge isn't to stop doing good things, but to check our hearts constantly. Are we giving our first fruits or our leftovers? Are our prayers genuine conversations with the Creator or impressive performances? Are we willing to deny our flesh through fasting to say yes to Jesus? This isn't about earning God's love—it's about recognizing that…

Topics covered

  • motives
  • intimacy with God
  • spiritual disciplines
  • generosity
  • prayer
  • fasting

Keywords

  • applause of one
  • spirituality
  • religious activities
  • heart check
  • genuine prayer
  • fasting
  • God's love

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Matthew 6

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