Upper Room Church Sandton

God desires for us to flourish and enjoy the blessings He gives us, but He also desires our hearts. In this message, Luke unpacks the danger of self-reliance and how success, abundance, and even our own abilities can slowly shift our dependence away from the Lord. Through the life of King Asa, we are reminded that true faith means seeking God not only in our struggles, but also in our success and affliction. God calls us to a daily posture of surrender, trusting Him with all our hearts and casting our cares on Him. Will we repent of self-reliance and choose a life of daily dependence on the Lord?

Key Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 15:9, Proverbs 3:5–6, 1 Peter 5:7

Living With the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not simply a source of power — He is God personally present with us and within us. In Ephesians 4:29–30, we are reminded not to grieve the Holy Spirit, but to put away bitterness, anger and malice and instead walk in kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

Anton calls us back to the basics: allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us, produce His fruit in us, reveal Jesus through us, and empower us for His purposes. As we become more aware of His presence, are we willing to lay down the things that grieve Him and truly walk in the way of love?

God is calling us to a higher level — a life that carries His presence and makes Jesus more visible.

In a world where we can make faith feel complicated, Pete reminds us that Christianity is actually simple — we just don’t always find obedience easy.

Looking at Hebrews 13, we’re challenged to stop making excuses and simply obey God and His Word. From honouring marriage and pursuing sexual purity, to generosity and tithing, obedience is a process of learning to trust God and respond to His heart.

Pete also speaks about the importance of honouring and following godly leadership. The Church isn’t simply a place to gain knowledge — it’s a community where lives are transformed.

Keep it simple. Hear God’s heart. Trust Him. Obey His Word.

Christianity Is Simple

In this message, Ant reminds us that being pressed does not mean we have been abandoned by God. Even in seasons of pressure, difficulty and uncertainty, God is present and working in us. We may feel pressed on every side, but we are never without hope.

A reminder to keep trusting Him, knowing that the pressure we face does not define our story — God’s presence does.

What does it look like to truly put Jesus at the centre of our lives?

Anton spoke about how we were not created for ourselves, but to belong to Jesus. In a world that constantly tells us to put ourselves first, Jesus invites us into a different way — a yielded and surrendered life.

Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ.” What would our lives, relationships and decisions look like if Jesus truly had the final say?

Sometimes the areas where we experience the most struggle are the areas where the “I” is still alive. The invitation is simple: surrender, submit and yield ourselves to the Lord.

Lord, what do You want?

How can something so small have so much power?

Our words carry weight. They can build people up or tear them down, bring healing or cause hurt, create connection or create division. In James 3, we’re reminded that although the tongue is small, it can have a significant impact on our lives and relationships.

John unpacks the power of our words and challenges us to look beyond what we say to what is happening in our hearts. Because our words are often an overflow of what’s going on within us.

Are our words producing life or death? Healing or hurt? Are we speaking from a place of love, or simply trying to be heard? And are we willing to know when silence is the wiser choice?

In this powerful sermon, Pete explores the profound difference between God’s ways, God’s thoughts, and our own human understanding. Scripture reminds us that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts—and when we learn to align ourselves with Him, we begin to see life through a different perspective.

This message challenges us to recognize the patterns God has established throughout Scripture and in our lives. By understanding how God thinks, how He works, and the principles that consistently shape His actions, we can grow in faith, wisdom, obedience, and spiritual maturity.

Discover how trusting God’s perspective can transform the way you approach your circumstances, make decisions, and walk out His purpose for your life.

This past Sunday, Luke Spark took us into the powerful message of the Kingdom of God.

When Jesus arrived on the scene, there was an expectation that something big was about to happen. The Jewish people were longing for freedom and many expected the coming Messiah to overthrow the Roman government and bring a political revolution.

But Jesus came with something far greater.

Through the prophecies of the Old Testament, we see the promise of a coming King and an everlasting Kingdom. And when Jesus began His ministry, His message was clear: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

This was not a neutral message. It was a radical declaration that demanded a response.

Jesus came to preach and demonstrate the good news of the Kingdom. He calls us to repent—to turn, to change direction—and to believe the gospel.

The Kingdom of God changes everything. And when we understand the message Jesus came to proclaim, we begin to see Scripture, His mission, and our own response more clearly.

Jesus is the Rock on which we can build our lives. The question is: How will we respond to the King and His Kingdom?

God’s Remedy for Life’s Overwhelm

Life can often leave us feeling overwhelmed, tired and simply wanting to get away. But sometimes what we need isn’t a holiday or an escape — we need to come into a place of inner peace with God.

In this message, Ant explores how the love of God brings us back to a place of rest and reminds us that our souls can truly find rest in Him. God’s goodness leads us to repentance, and as we grow in understanding His love, we become increasingly settled from within — at peace with God.

Paul reminds us that Christ’s love compels us and that we are called to be His ambassadors. When we encounter the love and goodness of God, it doesn’t just change how we feel; it changes how we live and how we represent Him to the world.

You may not need to escape from life — you may simply need to find your rest in Him.

Ant preached an incredible sermon on how, God has called us to be people of reconciliation. He has given us the message of reconciliation and called us to be His ambassadors.

Ant challenges us to look at the state of our hearts and the church. Revival isn’t only needed in the world — the church needs revival too. When the church becomes comfortable or complacent, something of the Gospel stops being shared.

Christ’s love compels us to reach people, to carry His heart and to share the good news. Where our hearts are invested reveals a lot about what matters to us.

Are we truly carrying compassion for those who don’t yet know Jesus? Are we willing to be His ambassadors and carry the message of reconciliation wherever we go?