We marvel at the “Pentecost power” described in Acts 2: the tongues of fire, thousands converted in a day, and miracles that impacted the Roman Empire. However, before this, it is important to consider how it began in Acts 1.
The early church’s transformation did not begin with strategy or powerful evangelistic series, but with a humbling realization: they were not ready. Peter recalled his denial, Thomas his doubt, and all remembered their fear when Jesus was arrested. Before they could stand before the world, they first knelt before God.
The Principle of the Empty Cup
There is a deep spiritual law at work in the Upper Room: a cup already full cannot receive more water.
The disciples arrived at that room stripped of their former pretenses. The cross had a way of melting away their pride. They were no longer arguing about who would be the greatest or comparing their spiritual gifts. They came empty, broken, and utterly dependent.
James 4:6 reminds us that “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” If we find ourselves today feeling spiritually dry, perhaps it is because we are too full of ourselves—our plans, our reputations, and our self-reliance. To be filled by the Holy Spirit, we must first be emptied of our ego.
The Repentance of “If Only”
In Ellen White’s writings (Acts of the Apostles, p. 36), we find a touching description of the disciples’ internal struggle during those ten days. They looked back on the three years they spent with Jesus with a bittersweet “if only.”
If only we could relive those years. We would act differently and show Him our love more earnestly.
This was not mere guilt; it was true repentance. They meditated on the “loveliness of Christ’s character” until their shortcomings became clear. This reflection transformed regret into determination. They could not change the past, but they could atone for unbelief by boldly confessing Him to the world. True repentance bridges the failures of yesterday and the power of tomorrow.
The Strength of the Bundle
The second point of their preparation was unity. This reminds us of a simple but powerful illustration: a single stick is easily snapped, but a bundle of sticks is unbreakable.
The enemy does not fear our programs, our buildings, or our eloquent sermons; he fears a united, praying church. When the disciples “put away all differences,” they removed the barriers that prevented heaven’s blessing. Division—whether in our families, our workplaces, or our church—acts as a spiritual “circuit breaker.” It stops the flow of power.
We cannot expect a corporate blessing if we harbor individual bitterness. Unity is not simply about liking one another; it is about united submission to the mind of Christ.
A Call to the Upper Room
The lesson in the Upper Room teaches us that the disciples put away their differences before they fulfilled their official duties. They humbled their hearts in true repentance. They unload their ego to make room for the Spirit. They healed the divisions to stand as an unbreakable bundle.
𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 Pastor Renito Inapan, 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 20, 2026, 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 fourth 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 (𝘌𝘊𝘗𝘜𝘊) 𝘛𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳, 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦.
Lyn Lucero ⎸ 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦