FROM THE TOMB TO THE UPPER ROOM: Mother’s Day Sermon

FROM THE TOMB TO THE UPPER ROOM

Act 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?”

Act 1:7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.

Act 1:8 But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

Act 1:9 And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight.

Act 1:10 While they were looking intently into the sky as He was going, two men in white clothing suddenly stood beside them,

Act 1:11 who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Act 1:12 Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Olive Grove), which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile) away.

Act 1:13 When they had entered the city, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying [indefinitely]; that is, Peter, and John and [his brother] James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael) and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas (Thaddaeus) the son of James.

Act 1:14 All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Many mothers know what it means to:

grieve,
wait,
wonder,
sacrifice,
pray,
and still remain faithful.

The same women who stood near the cross, went to the tomb, are now found in the upper room.

The disciples are asking:

“Lord, are You at this time restoring the kingdom?” (Acts 1:6)

There is a journey in the life of faith:

The Tomb

A place of:

Disappointment
Unanswered questions
Grief
Shattered expectations

The Upper Room

A place of:

Waiting
Prayer
Unity
Preparation
Empowerment

You cannot get to Pentecost without surviving the period between resurrection and fulfillment.

Some mothers are here today:

You’ve left the tomb, but you haven’t reached the breakthrough yet.

You’re in the upper room season.

Mom’s Stay Faithful Between Promise and Fulfillment

Act 1:12 Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Olive Grove), which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile) away.

Act 1:14 All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The disciples returned to Jerusalem and gathered in the upper room.

“Along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus…” (Acts 1:14)

Mary is still there. That is remarkable.

Think about Mary’s journey:

she carried Him in her womb, protected Him as a child, watched Him misunderstood, stood near His suffering, witnessed His crucifixion, experienced the grief of the tomb—

and yet she is still in the room.

Many people would have quit.

Mothers have a way of:

Showing up even after heartbreak.

Luke intentionally includes: “Mary the mother of Jesus”

because her faithfulness becomes testimony.

She was present:

during his ministry,
at the cross,
after the resurrection,
and now in the waiting room of Pentecost.

Real mothers don’t just celebrate the promise—they survive the process.

Gal 6:9 Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.

Gal 6:10 So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

The Upper Room Requires Patience Before power

Act 1:7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.

It’s easy to lose focus while you’re waiting.

Jesus redirects them to what’s important

He reminds them of purpose

Isa 40:31 But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

Mothers understand waiting.

A mother knows:

Carrying seasons,
Stretching seasons,
Painful seasons,
Uncertain seasons.

Mary had lived this reality:

From prophecy to fulfillment took decades.

I know sometimes motherhood feels like:

praying over promises you cannot control.

God’s delays are often God’s development.

The upper room is not punishment.

It is preparation.

God Uses Waiting Rooms to Birth Power

Acts 1:8

“You will receive power…”

The Greek word:
Dunamis (δύναμις)

Meaning:

miraculous power
ability
divine strength
supernatural capacity

to accomplish all of God’s purpose while being a mom, chauffer, counselor, doctor, tutor, cook, chef, disciplinarian,

Some mothers are tired.

Tired of:

carrying family burdens
praying for children
holding families together
surviving disappointments

There is power for this season.

You survived: the tomb season. Believe God for the next season

Now God is preparing: the upper room season

Act 1:14 All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

the women, the mothers

The church is literally being birthed in prayer.

Before the resurrection:

There were praying women

Before Pentecost:
there were praying women.

Before revival:
there were praying women.

Before movement:
there were praying women.

Mary’s testimony:

She no longer carries Jesus physically—

now she carries the mission spiritually.

Some mothers have moved from:

carrying children to covering children. Maybe they are grown or growing, they may be out of your house. But never stop covering them in prayer, encouraging thm in the faith, speaking life, reminding them of who they really are….

The disciples are still looking up.

“Why do you stand looking into heaven?”

Translation:

Stop standing still waiting for what God already promised.

Go to the upper room.

Pray.

Prepare.

Position yourself.

Word to Mothers

You may still be grieving:

what did not happen,
what should have happened,
what you lost,
who walked away,
prayers not yet answered—

But God says:

Don’t stay at the tomb.

There is still purpose in the upper room.

From the Tomb to the Upper Room

The tomb says:

It’s over.

The upper room says:

God is not finished.

The tomb holds grief.

The upper room holds preparation.

The tomb held tears.

The upper room held transformation.

And if you stay faithful long enough:

The same God who brought you through the tomb will fill you in the upper room.

The women who wept at the tomb became witnesses in the upper room.

And mothers still teach us today:

How to stay faithful until power comes.

FROM THE TOMB TO THE UPPER ROOM: Mother’s Day Sermon

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