Shavuot | An Upper Room Experience Part 2
In a recent blog about an upper room experience you discovered…
- What it meant to wait for the Promise
- An upper-mountain experience at Shavuot
- An upper room experience at Pentecost
- How an upper room experience empowered Believers
In summary, an upper room experience is a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit releases power and authority into your life so that you can fulfill your divine purpose.
In An Upper Room Experience Part 2, we will discover…
- The power of corporate prayer
- What it means to pray “with one accord”
- How the first Believers prayed
- Lessons from upper room experiences
An Upper Room Experience in Acts
The upper room experience in Acts is one of power and corporate prayer, and both were ignited by the fire of the Holy Spirit. As a Church, especially in this hour, we must humbly seek corporate prayer in unity and agreement if we want to receive the power to become the end-time army we are called to be.
The Church was born and empowered during an upper room experience. This authority is part of our inheritance and destiny…
- “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”—Ephesians 1:11, 17-19
Key Takeaway…
The indwelling and baptism of the Holy Spirit are what Jesus told the disciples to expect. With this power, they could move forward into new seasons, new beginnings, and new places.
Without Him, they were ill-equipped.
An Upper Room Experience and Corporate Prayer
The followers of Jesus were assembled together, praying in unity and agreement… waiting. They were positioning themselves and anticipating the Promise.
- “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘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)
An Upper Room Experience | Praying with One Accord…
Acts 1:14 reads that the followers “continued with one accord in prayer.” What does that mean?
It means they were in unity. It means they were in agreement with each other and with God’s Word. They were meditating on and decreeing the promises of God.
They understood the need for God’s power to consume and purify them so that they could move forward with the purpose the Lord had given them.
- “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”—Matthew 28:19-20 (emphasis added)
How were they ever going to make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe the instructions of God on their own?
They couldn’t.
They needed God’s authority to rest upon them and display through them! Nothing is impossible for God.
They needed the power of agreement prayers.
There is Still a Place for Personal Prayer…
Does this mean personal, private prayer is not necessary for activating the Holy Spirit’s power in a Believer’s life? No, there is power released in the quiet times of solitary prayer.
In fact, Jesus got up early and prayed in solitude to the Father. In the passage below, Jesus described His purpose, but before He went out to fulfill His purpose for the day, He prayed alone with the Father.
- “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for You.’
“But He said to them, ‘Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.’”
—Mark 1:35-38
Key Takeaway…
Corporate prayer should not take the place of personal prayer. Instead, we should look at these two types of prayers as two power sources working for the same purpose.
How Did the First Believers Pray?
We, as Believers, can glean knowledge, understanding, and application from the upper room experiences recorded in God’s Word. This experience was not a one-and-done event. The power and blessings released with signs and wonders done by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will are woven throughout the Bible.
And it is still happening today!
Let us actively engage in corporate prayer and anticipate God’s power.
Who was in the upper room?
In Acts 1:15, it says there were approximately 120 people present, including the disciples. Men and women joined together in prayer. It is a privilege and responsibility for all to pray in agreement together.
Key Takeaway…
Believers today can have an upper room experience too! It is a privilege and honor to join our spiritual brothers and sisters in corporate prayer.
How did they pray?
The first Believers in the Messiah gathered and prayed constantly. Even after receiving the Holy Spirit at Shavuot, they continued in corporate prayer.
- “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”—Acts 12:5 (emphasis added)
Their prayers were in agreement and steadfast. The power of the Holy Spirit did not run out after they departed from the upper room. In fact, the Holy Spirit is what kept them united, persevering in bold prayer.
- “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them… the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word… that signs and wonders may be done through the name of… Jesus.’”—Acts 4:24, 27-30 (emphasis added)
Key Takeaway…
As you can see, they agreed in their prayers. They lifted their voices up, praising God, recognizing His power, and boldly asked for what they needed. They did this constantly.
Now What?
Prepare your heart to receive power and join others in agreement. It is time for the marriage of mountains of fire, for us to shout “Grace, grace to it!” Let’s be empowered in this next season, leading others to Christ and the nations back to God!