Shavuot | An Upper Room Experience Part 1
Acts 1 recounts the preparation and instruction for the first upper room experience. Jesus commands the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).
Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus said to His followers, “… ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” —Acts 1:4-5 (emphasis added)
The disciples obeyed. They waited in the upper room and prayed “with one accord,” positioning themselves to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit would equip them to fulfill their Kingdom purposes.
- “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: 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. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” —Acts 1:12-14 (emphasis added)
An upper room experience is the giving of divine instruction through the Holy Spirit. The glorious events recorded in Acts 2 mirror the earth-shaking events of Shavuot spoken about in Exodus 19 (see below).
The Upper Room and the Connection to Shavuot
What is Shavuot?
Shavuot literally means “weeks” and is also known as the Festival of Weeks. It is named for the 50th day after the end of the 7-week period of the Counting of the Omer that occurs between Passover and Shavuot.
Shavuot is recognized as the day God revealed divine knowledge to Israel through the Law (Torah). The word Torah means instruction and direction. The giving of the Torah is spoken about in Exodus 19.
- “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’” —Exodus 19:10-11 (emphasis added)
The story in Exodus describes the events that happened at Mount Sinai. The thunder, lightning, and thick cloud that hovered over the mountain as God’s presence drew near.
- “Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire…” —Exodus 19:16-18 (emphasis added)
This first Shavuot, 50 days from the first Passover, marked the giving of God’s instruction to newly born Israel. The upper room experience, occurring on Shavuot 1500 years later, 50 days after Jesus’ death and resurrection at Passover, marked the giving of the Holy Spirit to empower God’s people to carry out His instruction – not in their own strength, but in His.
Key Takeaway…
Shavuot is the day the Lord made Israel a nation and gave them divine instruction through the Law (Torah). The events in Acts 2 happened during the Feast of Shavuot; God sent His Promised Helper to enable us to carry out His holy instruction through His power. The timing of this reveals more of the Father’s heart for relationship and His intentionality in His times and seasons.
The Upper Room and the Connection to Pentecost
Where does the name Pentecost come from? Pentecost is named after the Greek word pentekoste, meaning fiftieth. It was the ancient Greek term for Shavuot—fifty days from Passover.
We’ve come to refer to the events in Acts 2 as Pentecost, but the disciples would have understood that this event was happening during Shavuot.
On the day commemorating the giving of the law, God sent the promised Holy Spirit to write the law within His people. What was external became internal. What was written on tablets of stone was now written on hearts of Jewish Believers, and soon to be offered to all people, as Jeremiah foretold:
- “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
The Holy Spirit filled those in the upper room with spiritual insight and divine instruction.
- “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” —Acts 2:1-4 (emphasis added)
Key Takeaway…
The Acts 2 upper room experience happened during Pentecost and Shavuot. Pentecost specifically celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit, while Shavout commemorates Israel receiving divine instruction at Sinai.
From a messianic Jewish perspective and as grafted in Believers, we see how the two fit together perfectly—God sends His people divine instruction and empowers them with the Holy Spirit to carry it out!
What Is an Upper Room Experience?
An upper room experience is a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. Because Shavuot is one of the three pilgrimage feasts on God’s divine calendar, we know it is a supernaturally appointed time. He does not want us to miss out on the outpouring of His love, truth, revelation, and power.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit can occur at any time in a Believer’s life, yet there are moments when the Holy Spirit’s power is greatly manifested to empower the Body of Messiah. These moments are likened to an upper room experience.
God wants to fill and empower His people individually and corporately. In this way, His glory is revealed to every nation and in every sphere of influence.
Key Takeaway…
An upper room experience is a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit, pouring out love, truth, revelation, and power. The purpose of this outpouring is to empower individuals and the Body of Messiah to move into their Kingdom calling in the next season.
Why We Need the Holy Spirit
Israel’s story before the coming of the Holy Spirit showed us we cannot keep God’s law on our own. We cannot withstand the pressure of life in our own strength and understanding. We need transformation. We need supernatural intervention. We need to be sealed as God’s own and equipped to carry out the assignment He has given us–in His power, strength, and authority. This is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
As Paul proclaimed:
- “…having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” –Ephesians 1:13-14
Looking at Peter’s experience as an example, we’re reminded that our human efforts and best intentions fail, but through the Holy Spirit, we can be victorious.
From Human Effort to Holy Spirit Empowerment | Peter’s Transformation
For several years, Peter walked with Jesus, learning, watching, and observing. He witnessed great miracles, which directly blessed him. He was encouraged and declared Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Yet Peter did not fully understand the power that was to come.
In Matthew 26, we see that Peter had the best intentions, but soon realized there is no way to follow in Jesus’ footsteps apart from the Holy Spirit.
- The Lord said to Peter, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” –Matthew 26:34-35 (emphasis added)
Despite Peter’s desire to remain faithful amid persecution, we see Jesus’ words come to pass…
- “Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee.’” —Matthew 26:69
Peter’s first denial.
Faced with the fear of death and the horror of watching His beloved Rabbi be arrested and sentenced to death, Peter starts to shut down and hide. This is how all of us are without supernatural strength and empowerment.
- “And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, ‘This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.’” —Matthew 26:71
Peter’s second denial.
- “And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.’” —Matthew 26:73
Peter’s third denial.
The rooster crowed… He left and wept. He then knew he did not have the power and authority required to do what he was called to do.
But that realization isn’t the end of Peter’s story– Jesus met him with mercy and redemption. In His resurrected state, He meets Peter on the beach and reinstates him, washing away all shame and calling him to feed His sheep from a place of holy love and supernatural empowerment (John 21:15-19).
When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in the upper room, he preached with boldness. He faced arrest and persecution and rejoiced with the disciples at having been found worthy to suffer for Jesus’ Name (Acts 5:41). He was no longer afraid, because the love and strength of God weren’t just ideas outside him but a living reality within him.
The Takeaway…
Just as Peter did, we can follow Jesus but find ourselves falling away when the pressure comes. We need God’s strength to live out His call on our lives.
We need the Holy Spirit’s transformation to fuel our motivation and impact. This is the only way to live out our Kingdom purpose and to know the joy of relational intimacy with God.
Meditate on 3 Truths as You Prepare for Shavuot
- God is able to exceed your expectations.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” —Ephesians 3:20-21
- The Holy Spirit is generous.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” —Luke 11:13
- Be immersed by the Spirit.
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” —Matthew 3:11
If you are ready to receive more than you ask, think, or imagine, invite the Holy Spirit into your daily life—expect an upper-room experience.
Get ready for the new thing God is doing under an open heaven. It’s time to receive power from on high and partner with Jesus as He draws the remnant of nations to see and behold His glory.