ACTS 1:1-21 | “IN MY ROOM”

“IN MY ROOM”

ACTS 1:1-21

JUNE 4, 2017

IF YOU ARE OF A CERTAIN AGE AND ERA, THEN YOU KNOW THE SONG “IN MY ROOM” BY THE BEACH BOYS.

IT IS A SONG ABOUT TEENAGE ANGST.

BUT FOR SINGER/SONGWRITER BRIAN WILSON, WHO STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION AND PARANOIA, MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING MORE, AS HE ONCE SAID, “MY ROOM IS MY WHOLE WORLD;” AND IN A VERY REAL SENSE, THAT BECAME TRUE FOR HIM AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN HIS LIFE.

BUT WHEN HE AND GARY USHER WROTE THE SONG, IN BRIAN’S ROOM, BY THE WAY, IT WAS MEANT TO CONVEY THE SOLACE, SOLITUDE, AND SANCTITY OF A SINGLE PLACE.

“THERE’S A WORLD WHERE I CAN GO

AND TELL MY SECRETS TO

IN MY ROOM, IN MY ROOM…

IN THIS WORLD, I CAN LOCK OUT

ALL MY WORRIES AND MY FEARS…

DO MY DREAMING AND MY SCHEMING, LIE AWAKE AND PRAY

DO MY CRYING AND MY SIGHING, LAUGH AT YESTERDAY…

NOW IT’S DARK AND I’M ALONE

BUT I WON’T BE AFRAID

IN MY ROOM, IN MY ROOM”

I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE, OR HAVE EVER HAD, A PLACE LIKE THAT, BUT I’M PRETTY SURE JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES DID.

TRADITION SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS AN UPPER ROOM IN THE HOME OF THE PARENTS OF JOHN MARK.

JOHN MARK WAS THE YOUNG MAN, THE YOUNG FOLLOWER OF JESUS, WHO THE AUTHORITIES ATTEMPTED TO CAPTURE AT JESUS’ SIDE ON THE NIGHT OF JESUS’ BETRAYAL.  JOHN MARK MANAGES TO ESCAPE BY RUNNING OUT OF HIS CLOTHES, AS THEY SOUGHT TO GRAB HOLD OF HIM.

HE MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN THE AUTHOR OF THE EARLIEST OF THE GOSPELS, MARK.

BUT, WE KNOW THIS PLACE, THIS ROOM, AS THE UPPER ROOM:

AND JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES KEEP ENDING UP THERE, ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF JESUS’ LIFE, AND AFTER HIS RESURRECTION.

IT IS THIS ROOM JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES SHARE THE LAST SUPPER.

IT IS HERE THAT THE DISCIPLES HIDE OUT, AFTER JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH, FEARFUL THAT THEY MIGHT BE NEXT; AND AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO; WHAT, WITH JESUS DEAD AND GONE.

IT IS IN THIS UPPER ROOM, THAT JESUS MAKES ONE OF HIS FIRST RESURRECTION APPEARANCES, TO TEN OF HIS DISCIPLES; JUDAS BEING DEAD, AND THOMAS BEING ELSEWHERE.

JESUS RETURNS TO THIS ROOM, AGAIN, POST RESURRECTION, TO ONCE MORE APPEAR TO HIS DISCIPLES, AND ESPECIALLY TO THOMAS, AND WE REMEMBER THE SCENE AS IT PLAYED OUT WITH JESUS ALLOWING THOMAS TO TOUCH HIS HANDS AND SIDE.

IT IS IN THE UPPER ROOM WHERE, AT JESUS’ DIRECTION, THE DISCIPLES ARE WAITING FOR THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND WHERE THEY RECEIVE IT, LIKE THE RUSH OF A MIGHTY WIND, ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST.

AND THERE IS AT LEAST ONE OTHER MENTION OF THIS ROOM A LITTLE LATER IN ACTS; JESUS’ DISCIPLES ARE THERE, AGAIN; ONLY THIS TIME, WITH JESUS’ MOTHER, BROTHERS, AND SISTERS AS WELL.

IN MANY WAYS, IT COULD BE SAID, THAT THE UPPER ROOM BECOMES THE EPICENTER OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY; WHERE SO MUCH OF THE END OF JESUS’ LIFE HAPPENED; AND WHERE NEW LIFE FOR THE DISCIPLES BEGAN.

IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES JESUS EVER WAS, AND THE LAUNCHING PAD FOR ALL THAT WAS TO COME NEXT IN THE LIVES OF THE DISCIPLES, AND THE LIFE OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

AS I MENTIONED BACK AROUND MAUNDY THURSDAY AND EASTER OF THIS PAST YEAR, CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS STILL VISIT A SIGHT PURPORTED TO BE THE UPPER ROOM, NOT ONLY TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE IT;

NOT ONLY AS A PLACE WHERE CHRIST WAS, AND IS; BUT A PLACE WHERE MANY CELEBRATE COMMUNION TOGETHER IN MUCH THE SAME WAY JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES DID, ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

“THERE’S A PLACE WHERE I CAN GO

AND TELL MY SECRETS TO…

DO MY DREAMING AND MY SCHEMING, LIE AWAKE AND PRAY…”

I’M MENTIONING ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE TODAY IS PENTECOST SUNDAY; BUT ALSO, BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNION SUNDAY; AND BECAUSE WE ARE THINKING THIS MORNING NOT ONLY OF OUR GRADUATING SENIOR, COLIN LUTZ;

BUT OF ALL THOSE SENIORS GRADUATING BOTH FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE;

CLOSING OUT ONE CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES, AND LAUNCHING INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF WHATEVER LIFE WILL BRING;

AND WHATEVER THEY WILL BE BRINGING TO LIFE.

AS FOR PENTECOST, THIS IS THE DAY WE COMMEMORATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH; THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; THAT MOMENT WHEN THE FIRST CHURCH COMES ALIVE; AND WHEN THE CHURCH FIRST GOES WORLDWIDE.

THAT’S WHAT ALL THAT BUSINESS ABOUT THE DISCIPLES SPEAKING AND PETER PREACHING IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGES IS…

AND HOW, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL THOSE OTHERS, FROM DIFFERENT NATIONS, WHOSE NAMES I TRIPPED OVER WHILE READING, COULD UNDERSTAND, IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGES – THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE GIFT OF TONGUES, IN THIS INSTANCE, IS NOT SOME SORT OF SUPERNATURAL GIBBERISH MEANT TO BE INTERPRETED BY OTHERS WITH THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION;

THIS WAS SOME SORT OF STRAIGHT UP, SPIRIT INSPIRED, SUPERNATURAL, “GOOGLE” TRANSLATOR:

WHERE PETER AND THE DISCIPLES SPOKE IN THEIR LANGUAGE, WHILE OTHERS FROM ALL OVER THE KNOWN WORLD, WERE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS SAID IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUES.

IT IS, OF COURSE, JUST ONE OF MANY MIGHTY THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY: THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE VARIOUS LANGUAGES; THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH; THE ADDING OF 5000 FOLLOWERS IN A SINGLE DAY;

NO WONDER THE CHURCH HAS COMMEMORATED THIS DAY AS THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH;

AND WHY, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WE STILL REMEMBER IT, CELEBRATE IT, AND HONOR IT, IF NOT IN THE LIFE OF THE WORLD, LIKE CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, AT LEAST IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH, AND FOR BELIEVERS.

IT’S ALSO WHY OUR DENOMINATION RECEIVES A SPECIAL OFFERING ON PENTECOST, WHICH IS USED BOTH WITHIN THE LOCAL CHURCH, AND OUR GREATER CHURCH, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF MINISTRY WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, AND CHILDREN AT RISK.

IN THE PAST, WE HAVE USED OUR PORTION OF THIS OFFERING FOR THE LOCAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH’S AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM, WITH PROJECT LIGHTHOUSE, THE BAHAMA VILLAGE MUSIC PROGRAM, AND IN SUPPORT OF A POSITIVE STEP.

WITH OUR SUPPORT, OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS HAVE TUTORED CHILDREN; PROVIDED A SAFE, FUN PLACE TO STAY AND PLAY; HAVE TAUGHT CHILDREN TO READ AND PLAY MUSIC; GOTTEN YOUNG ADULTS OFF THE STREET, AND OFF DRUGS; AND PROVIDED JOB TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE FOR SUMMER YOUTH WORKERS.

WE HAVE IMPACTED THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY; AFFECTED THE LIVES OF YOUNG ADULT VOLUNTEERS (YAVS) WITHIN OUR DENOMINATION, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY’VE SERVED;

AND MET THE NEEDS OF THOUSANDS OF AT-RISK CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT A WONDERFUL COMING TOGETHER OF PENTECOST, THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH, GRADUATIONS, AND OUR COMMON FELLOWSHIP AS A CONGREGATION THROUGH COMMUNION.

ALL BEGUN IN THAT UPPER ROOM.

“NOW IT’S DARK AND I’M ALONE

BUT I WON’T BE AFRAID,

IN MY ROOM, IN MY ROOM…”

THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES OF JESUS WERE AFRAID IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DARKNESS AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST… THEY WERE HIDING OUT IN THE UPPER ROOM…

BUT ONCE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST APPEARED TO THEM, AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO THEM, THEY WERE NEW CREATIONS, AND IT WAS A NEW DAY…

SOME OF YOU HEADED TO COLLEGE, OR INTO THE WORKFORCE, INTO NEW PLACES AND NEW EXPERIENCES…

WE CANNOT TELL A LIE… THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THINGS WILL BE DARK, WHERE YOU MAY FEEL ALL ALONE, WHERE YOU MAY BE AFRAID…

BUT OURS IS A GOD WHO GOES WITH… OURS IS A GOD WHO VISITS… WHO HEARS OUR PRAYERS… WHO BRINGS GOD’S SPIRIT… ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE MOST IN NEED.

SOME OF YOU MAY BE MOVING AWAY TO DORM ROOMS, TO SHARING A HOUSE WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER STUDENTS, OR GETTING YOUR OWN PLACE AS YOU START A NEW JOB…

IT MIGHT GET KIND OF SCARY AT TIMES… IT MIGHT FEEL SORT OF LONELY (EVEN AMIDST OTHERS) BUT DON’T BE AFRAID, GOD WILL BE WITH YOU;

AND SO TOO, WILL THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF THOSE WHO LOVE YOU; YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND YOUR CHURCH FAMILY AS WELL.

THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS, THAT, WHILE WE MAY SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES, IN DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, WE CAN STILL HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD, IN JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

REMEMBER THE UPPER ROOM… REMEMBER THAT, IT, LIKE YOUR OWN ROOM AT HOME, WAS A PLACE OF SOLACE, SOLITUDE, AND SANCTITY.

REMEMBER TOO, THAT IT WILL BE THE INDWELLING OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT THAT WILL MAKE YOUR “NEW ROOM” THE SAME SORT OF PLACE FOR YOU NOW.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM THE TIMES OF OUR FORMER GRADUATIONS, THE FORMER TRANSITIONS IN LIFE, THE SAME GOES FOR US!

IT IS GOD’S SPIRIT WHICH MAKES OUR PLACES, OUR “ROOMS,” HAVENS; HARBORS; RETREATS; AND SANCTUARIES; INCLUDING THIS PLACE WE CALL CHURCH.

ON THIS PENTECOST SUNDAY – I SAY TO THE CHURCH – THAT IS, TO ALL OF US – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  (AND MANY MORE…) BEST WISHES; GOD BLESS; AND MAY THE PEACE OF CHRIST BE WITH US ALWAYS.

AMEN.