7:14 , 2230

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The Bible tells and speaks of countless times of a believer to pray. Often than not people pray for things that God didn't tell them to pray for. We find ourselves praying for needs and wants instead of what was told for us to pray about or for. Its not that we can't pray for our needs and wants, the point is we shouldn't overlook what we should be praying for. In fact Jesus told us not to worry about our needs and wants but we should occupy our minds and hearts with His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:25-34).

I'm calling for prayer for anyone of you declaring yourself a Christian. Base on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Ezekiel 22:30, let us pray for revival upon our nation. Let us stand in the gap between the people and God. Between eternal life and death and begin to pray for the salvation of the people in our nation.

As we pray for revival let us not have any heart of judgement or prejudice towards anyone we might have had conflict with. Let us feel the heart of God for the people and know that we ourselves were saved not because we did something good or impressed God but we were saved by grace and by grace alone.

So everyday at 7:14 am/pm and 10:30 pm let us spend at least 5-10 minutes to pray for revival. You may be in your office, college, at home, in the bathroom, on your bed, in the car, wherever you are, pray. Praying in the spirit will be good enough (having revival for Malaysia as the focus in your mind as you do this). Let it be an intense time of crying out for our nation to be saved (crying doesn't have to be literal). We are running out of time.

'THE WORD'

If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30 NJKV)

The Only Applause That Matters

Two Sundays ago we got a handout on our way out from church. It was a note that has stuck to my mind and I hope it does to you to. In these troubled times many will go astray and do whatever they please and best suits their ways. But what is it that really matters at the end of the day?

It was the moment the young man had waited for and had prepared for over many months. It was his premiere appearance as a concert pianist. The audience had heard a lot about his amazing talent, and they packed out this prestigious concert hall to hear him. They weren't disappointed. In fact, his masterful playing brought them to their feet for a thunderous standing ovation at the end of the concert. Backstage, the young man's manager said, "They want and encore, man! Get out there!" The pianist looked strangely dejected, and he said, "No I'm not going back out there." His manager said, "But they love you, man!" Look at them" They're all on their feet!" "Not all," was all the young man could say. "Look in the balcony." The manager peeked around the curtain and he saw one white-haired old man in the balcony who wasn't standing or applauding. "Hey, come on! That's one old man! So what?" The pianist looked down at the floor and he said, "That's not one old man. That's my teacher."

It didn't matter to the concert artist what the crowd thought. Only one opinion mattered. Only one man in that multitude was the one he wanted to please - his teacher. You know, that's how God has wired you and me to live. To please your teacher - your Creator. Sadly, we tend to lose sight of Him in our desire to get the applause of the crowd around us.

Jesus has given us six powerful words to live by in our world for today from the Word of God. These words in John 8:29 are simple, but they'll change your life if you'll make them the core value of your life: "I always do what pleases Him." Jesus lived only for His Father's approval. That's why the greatest moment of His life was at His baptism when the heavens opened and He heard His Father say, "You are My Son... with You I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22). It didn't matter whether the crowd was cheering or jeering. Jesus knew He was okay if His Father thought He was okay.

That's an important reminder for us approval junkies, who tend to mold ourselves to please other people. It's like we have this ticket we keep trying to get people to validate for us. "Hey, do you like me? Do you like what I'm doing? What do I have to do to get you to stamp my ticket?" It's called "Please Disease" spending so much of your life trying to please others. But there's never enough applause is there? There's never enough approval. And somewhere in all the pleasing, you lose yourself and you lose the pleasure of the only One who can satisfy your heart - your Lord Jesus who died so you could live for Him! 1 Corinthians 7:23 says,

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Paul knew he had to choose once and for all who he was going to live for and who he was going to live to please. He said,

Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

So who are you living to please: the boss, the pastor, your family, your friends. the church, some guy or girl, the community? They didn't die for you. Their rewards don't hold a candle to His. The early church leader, Stephen, knew that. He had stood up for the truth on the streets of Jerusalem and the crowd was not applauding. They were screaming at him, throwing rocks at him to shut him up. "But," the Bible says, "Stephen.... looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

The Bible tells us that Jesus is usually sitting at His Father's right hand, but not this day. He's standing, honoring his faithful servant Stephen. and Stephen has the courage to keep doing the right thing, even at the cost of his life, because his teacher was standing. His teacher was saying, "Well done."

I hope that's where you're looking for your approval. The only applause that matters is the applause of heaven. Anything is worth doing to get that; nothing is worth losing it. Nothing.

'THE WORD'

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. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

'GOOD QUOTE'

Your life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once.

Lillian Dickson