Go To The Upper Room

Go to the Upper Room
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father … Acts 1:4a
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet near Jerusalem, a Sabbath’s day journey (about ¾ of a mile).  … they went up into the upper room … Acts 1:12 -13a
They went to the upper room after a series of remarkable events that have changed the course of all history, the Cross, the Resurrection, then after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days … while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight
Jesus was specific in His instructions. The disciples joyfully obeyed Him, to the letter. 
What is our upper room?

• Public worship
• Church wide prayer and intercession

Who is in the upper room? Peter, James, John and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. … with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:13,14b Church Leadership
What did they do? These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplications … Acts 1:14a
There is a time in Scripture that most if not all of us are familiar. It too was a time to wait.
God called Moses to the top of the mountain to receive the commands and ordinances that would guard their nation moving forward. Geographically, Moses stood on a mountaintop but the intent of God in it is similar to that of the upper room. Moses obeyed God to, come up to the Lord … then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain, the sight of the glory of God was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud … (Exodus 24)
The children of Israel grew weary in their waiting. Exodus 32 gives the full account of what happened. This simple summation suffices, they corrupted themselves(7). That generation did not pass the tests of waiting on the Lord.   
The 120 stayed in the upper room, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were (all) with one accord in one place.
They still waited for the promise of the Father.
How much do you like to wait? Is it a hobby? Is it a lifelong aspiration?
I don’t know if anyone likes to wait. Much of the time we wait only as a steppingstone to get what we want whether it is credit approval, programs loaded, appointments met or destinations reached.
Perhaps John Ortberg writes, “when we wait for something, we recognize that we are not in control.”
My brothers and sisters, the upper room was their act of defiant faith for the increase of His kingdom here on earth as it is on heaven. Their presence and participation showed they got the heart and passion of Jesus’ message and ministry, certainly more than when He was physically present with them.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire and sat upon each of them
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in their own language
But Peter standing up with the eleven raised his voice and said to them …
and that day about 3000 souls were added to them.
Would it have happened without the joyful obedience of the leadership and followers in the New Testament church to get to the upper room and stay there until the promise of the Father was poured out?
Today the Holy Spirit is saying;

1. Renew and refresh your commitment to our and your upper room
2. The Upper Room stands between us and the Promise of the Father.
3. you need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what He has promised. Hebrews 10:36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We need the ‘upper room’ today and in the coming days. We need to hear the call of the Lord to the Upper Room, for prayer, worship, boldness and the impartation of His Spirit. I suggest we apply the command of Jesus to wait in the upper room to our life together.
I believe the upper room goes beyond Sunday. It starts with servant leadership from the pastors, to church council, worship team and HOPE Generation. It means your service includes and requires at least a monthly visit to the Upper Rooms we have made available.     
As we endeavor to push out the boundaries of our ministry the upper rooms become more critical. If we show greater unity through greater participation then I believe and I want your faith to partner with mine HOTH will see greater momentum for Kingdom growth than ever before.
My friends, we were put here to make a Holy Spirit empowered impact and influence. God didn’t put us here to be freeze dried Christians that are opened only on Sunday mornings.