Marriage and the Holy Spirit:
The months of April, May and June have seen a lot of marriages taking place. Most of us were busy attending marriages and receptions the past few months. We all must have spent a lot of our time discussing these marriages, the traditions and customs followed by people, the bridal finery and all the details of the marriages.
We advice the newly wed couple how to spend their lives with one another, but how many of us give importance to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our married lives? We tell them not to let a third person enter their lives but ignore the Holy Spirit who is essential in our lives.
Eccl.4:12,’ If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken’.
Who is this Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, One who has been in the world since creation and even before that. The Holy Spirit is the comforter who Jesus (Yahshua) promised. ‘But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.’ (John.14: 26) What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Among other things He gives us life (John.6: 63), He frees us from the laws of sin and death (Rom.8:2), and most importantly, the Holy Spirit teaches us how to pray (Rom.8: 26). In marriage, it is not the Pastor who seals the vows but the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit frees us from pettiness and brings unity of heart. Genuine unity, like joy or love, cannot be forced or created artificially. Only the Spirit can bring unity. Only the Spirit can free us from our pettiness and from the forces of guilt and sin that divide us from God and from each other. With our own wills we can certainly try to free ourselves from these forces, and we may be able to overcome them to a certain degree and for a certain period of time. But we should remember that ultimately only the spirit of love can overcome the flesh.

Again, we must never forget our dependence on the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Even within a marriage, if our unity is based only on mutual feelings or common values and not on the Spirit, it runs the risk of being swallowed up by the purely worldly pleasures. We ourselves are not capable of bringing about the true unity of spirit in which two hearts become one. That can happen only when we allow ourselves to be gripped and transformed by something greater than ourselves.

When a marriage is anchored in the Holy Spirit, both partners will feel that their love is not a private possession but a fruit and gift of God’s uniting love. They may still struggle with selfishness, disunity, superficiality, or other disorders, but if they keep their hearts open, the Spirit will always lift their eyes to God and his help. The Spirit must come to each of us, whether married or unmarried, again and again. It wants to transform everything in our hearts and give us the strength to love.

Gen.2:18 says,’ It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a help meet for him.’ So God made a woman for the man so that man and woman could be a team instead of individuals. A team member will cooperate with the others for their common good. Marriage is partnership of equals. It is not a competition between the sexes. Men and women have different roles to play in society and are qualified accordingly.
In the Old Testament we read that the Israelites were forbidden to marry Gentiles. This principle still holds good for all true believers; for it is carried forward into the new covenant where Jesus(Yahshua)’s followers are forbidden to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
2Cor.6:14, ‘Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers…’
Amos.3:3, ‘can two walk together except they agree?’
To be in agreement, two should listen, understand and be ready to compromise. The couple should be on the same wavelength. The Bible advises that believers should marry like-minded believers. This is possible only with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit helps us to renew our faithfulness to each other and to have a godly offspring (Mal.2: 14-15). As a guide to a happy marriage, daily study of the Bible is recommended. Nothing builds a sense of responsibility towards one's spouse better than does Bible study.
The Holy Spirit is a hidden treasure, who gives us power to be like Jesus (Yahshua) (Eph.3: 16)
He directs our lives on a daily basis. (Rom.8:14.) He will teach us all things. (John.14: 26) The Holy Spirit causes us to glorify God. (John.16: 14.)
Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas.4: 7)

Pray and be filled with the Holy Spirit. True love is born of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is in our lives we will be faithful to each other. The Holy Spirit is the foundation for a happy married life. When a man and woman are filled with the Holy Spirit then their love is a gift of God.