20-Feb-2024 – Do you have desire to have upper room experience
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication – Acts 1:14
This verse talks about the believers group who witnessed first supernatural manifestation of the power of Holy Spirit once Jesus left the earth. The believers gathered there were praying and offering their supplications to God. This we know as the upper room experience.
If we observe carefully, the twelve disciples and other people with them, gathered in that manner for the first time. How can we know that?
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. – John 20:19
Once they came to know that Jesus is not there in the tomb but risen, instead of shouting with joy, they gathered in a room by shutting their doors for the fear of Jews.
Then Jesus gave them authority to forgive sins of the fellow people by breathing unto them the Holy Spirit. But still the disciples could not believe what happened and still was disappointed because Jesus was not with them. They went back to the same jobs which they left for Jesus, which is fishing.
But gracious Lord did not leave them nor rebuked them but compassionately prepared them and assured them that he will be with them always. That’s why we can understand that the disciples for the first time gathered as an assembly in the upper room praying together.
This is a very apt example for all of us. By the time all these people gathered in the upper room, they lost the intimate fellowship of Jesus and the lovely opportunity of hearing the words of Jesus. Even they worked together and did many mighty miracles along with Jesus, now they are not confident, because Jesus was not with them. They were separated from the presence of Jesus. But Jesus prepared them during that time and enabled them to trust him and gather again.
Even in our life, even though we know Jesus like these disciples knew, when we are left isolated without the comfort of a church, it is very common for us to be disappointed and go back to the situations before we started our walk with Jesus.
God allows these kinds of situations, to prepare us stronger than before. To kindle a genuine urge for him and when we wait in prayer with the same enthusiasm as they had in the upper room, God fills us with the power to start what he actually intended for us. The upper room experience comes after a period of separation from the comfort zone of walking hand-in-hand with God.
Now the question for us is, “Do you have desire to have the upper room experience?” If you are currently having the disappointed feeling of away from the ministry of God, don’t worry. God is preparing you for the upper room experience. After which you will be like Peter and other disciples who stood as great testimonies for God!
Prayer
Dear Loving heavenly Father, thank you for your wonderful love and grace. Thank you for your plans for us. We cannot understand with our minds but we knew that they are the best plans by tasting your love and grace. Lord, many of us are going through this depression cycle of shattered comfort zones. But you are faithful and preparing us to leap into the next level. To witness the upper room experience. Help us to understand this and gather by faith, I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen!
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