When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 (ESV)
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NASB)
Let us consider for a moment the power of the Holy Spirit that is evident in these verses. From the earliest days of the formation of the Church we see the focus on four key practices. First, a willingness to submit to the teaching of the apostles. The New Testament was just beginning to be written. It would be some time before God completed the inspired books and letters which make up our Bible today. The Holy Spirit had just come in fulfillment of the promise of Jesus. The Apostles were guided by the Spirit in what they taught just as Jesus had promised in our first verse. That is also fulfillment of a promise. Secondly, they committed to fellowship and mutual support. Sharing what they had and breaking bread together was a sign of mutual support through the Holy Spirit. Fourth was a commitment to prayer. Without prayer, they would be vulnerable. Those who followed Jesus, the gathered community of this infant church was given spiritual food as they also followed the preaching and teaching of the twelve apostles from—and based on—the Scriptures. It was the beginning of Christ’s eternal bride, His church.
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