After Jesus Christ rose, Jesus visited His disciples for 40 days and then ascended to heaven before the eyes of His disciples. Jesus’ last message to His disciples was written in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jerusalem can be interpreted as a family. Judea can be interpreted as fellow believers. And Samaria can be interpreted as the non-believers. And to the ends of the earth. After Jesus gave His last message to His disciples, Jesus was taken up to heaven.
After that, what did His disciples do? They went to Jerusalem, to the upper room. There were 120 disciples of Jesus Christ that had gathered there. Why did they go there? Because Jesus commanded them by saying, “but stay in the city [Jerusalem] until you have been clothed with power from on high.” What did the 120 disciples do? “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…” Acts 1:14. They all continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication with one accord! It’s prayer, praise, and worship in unity, day and night. This is the principle of the Tabernacle of David. This is the Prayer Tower!
For ten days they kept doing that and on the tenth day, right on the Day of Pentecost, suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven. Then, they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that were divided among each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit! And as this is the initial sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in other tongues. That’s speaking in tongues!
The initial sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. But after that, as we go through our lives, we will not always be full of the Spirit. In fact, some people are not filled with the Holy Spirit anymore and their lives are messy. It is so important for our lives to always be filled with the Holy Spirit. So, if there are sin or unresolved things in your life, you must resolve it with the Lord quickly, so you will be filled with the Holy Spirit again. Often times, people who are spirit-filled fall into sin and don’t do anything about it, they will keep falling into sin. They can still speak in tongues, but they are not truly filled with the Holy Spirit. Their behavior and action are not aligned with God. They will become stumbling blocks!
What happened after the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit? First, Peter’s short sermon resulted in the repentance of 3000 people. These things will happen, the sermon is short but suddenly people come to repentance. Why? Because the Holy Spirit makes it happen! Second, signs and wonders took place. Third, congregational lifestyle changed. They love to read the Bible, to pray and to praise God. They love to give. They had favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
That’s the First Pentecost! And now we are entering into the Third Pentecost, where these things will happen in more amazing ways. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Source: GBI Gatot Subroto Article, Sermon of Ps. Niko Njotorahardjo