THE UPPER ROOM: AN OBJECT OF INCREASING PROMINENCE


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THE TRINITY CHAPEL, MODIBBO ADAMA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, YOLA

BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

Topic: THE UPPER ROOM: AN OBJECT OF INCREASING PROMINENCE
Text: ACTS 1:12-26
Memory Verse: Proverbs 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

INTRODUCTION
The Upper Room played a very important role in the beginning of the Church as reported in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostle. We are trusting God to use it as object to speak increasing relevance to our lives today. To begin with, who owned the Upper Room? How simply He released it to Jesus for use! First for the Lords Supper, second as the “waiting room” for the 120, then the Headquarters of the New Church, the rallying point of the over 3000 Pentecost Converts and then the 5000 and the much more that God added. How gloriously the Upper Room increased in prominence and relevance! As we also surrender our Upper Rooms to Jesus, may we begin to enjoy an ever-increasing relevance and prominence in Jesus’ name. Amen.

DISCUSSION
1.      The Upper Room: Ownership.
The Upper Rooms in the Old Testament were owned by the Christian Community or rich individuals. The specific one in the New Testament was owned by “the goodman of the house” Lk 22:11. 
i.    Temple Upper Room (2 Chr. 28:11-12)
ii.   Rich men’s Upper Rooms (Jer. 20:13-14)
iii.  The Gospel’s Upper Room (Lk 22:7-13; Acts 1:12 See also Acts 9:37-39; 20:8)

2.      The Upper Room: Release for Use.
i.           How simply he released the Upper Room to Jesus! Lk. 22:12-13
ii.         The donkey owner released his donkey to Jesus Mk 11:4
iii.       The little boy’s lunch simply released to Jesus Jn 6:11
iv.       Levi’s custom job simply released to Jesus Mk 2:14
v.         Peter released his boat to Jesus Lk 5:3
vi.       Elisha’s big-time farming simply released to God I Kg 19:19-21
vii.     Paul’s law training, simply released to Jesus Phil 3:7

3.      The Upper Room: Its Features (Mk 14:15, Lk 22:12-13)
What lessons can we learn from the features of the Upper Room?
i.           Large
ii.         Upper Room (Privacy) Jn 13-17 preached here.
iii.       Furnished
iv.       Ready

4.      The Upper Room: Occupants at different times.  
How many days did the disciples spend in the Upper Room? Acts 1:3, 13, 2:1, 42 etc.
Discuss the occupants of the Upper Room at different times and its increasing prominence.
i.           The owner and all his
ii.         Jesus and the twelve.  Lk 22:12-13
iii.       The about 120 believers. Acts 1:13
iv.       The 120 and the over 3000 new believers. Acts 2:41
v.         The 120 and the about 5000 new believers. Acts 4:4
vi.       The ever increasing Church. Acts 2:47; 4:42

 5.      The Ever Increasing Prominence and Relevance. We can come to the limelight in Jesus’ hands! Jn 15:5.
The Upper Room was used for instituting the New Covenant, Jesus gave last minute instructions  and encouragement to His disciples, prayed the highly celebrated priestly prayers in Jn 17, washed their feet Jn 13:8), and it later became a refuge for the disciples, the place for new converts and the headquarters of the Church (Acts).

CONCLUSION
The secret of the ever-increasing relevance and prominence of the Upper Room is its release to Jesus. In the hand of its owner, it remained a personal property, rather unknown but in the hands of the Lord Jesus, it has grown from obscurity to prominence. Our lives, gifts, talents, belongings and indeed our all can also be just that, after all Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

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