Becky Crenshaw

“All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except he worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure.” – Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon was not pigeon-holing marriage in this sermon, but doesn’t it apply?  All marital blessing flows through the vein of our Helper, the Holy Spirit.  No good thing comes apart from Him.

And in a marriage that is {more than fine} we must remember that apart from the vine, we can do nothing.

“[In marriage…] Do you desire to speak for Jesus – how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master’s cause?  You cannot without the Spirit-“Without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5  –Spurgeon

Christian brother or sister, where are you toiling by the arm of your flesh in marriage?  Let us remember today that we have unlimited supply and power when we attach securely to our source of strength, the Holy Spirit.

“O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through his Spirit! Then let us not grieve him or provoke him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench him in one of his faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer, “Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.” – Spurgeon

Today, let us pursue a {more than fine} marriage as result of our relentless pursuit of a {more than fine} God.  He is full of POWER and GRACE and MAJESTY and HEALING and RESTORATION and FORGIVENESS and LOVE.  And because of His great love for you and me, He has made Himself available through the Holy Spirit, our  “channel of grace”. 

Father, let me operate in the power of the Holy Spirit today.  Let me never “try” by my own effort to be a good wife or a good husband, but let me yield myself daily to Your Spirit who gives me everything I need.  Let me love in Your power and forgive by Your grace.  Let me serve with Your heart and listen with Your ears.  Let me grieve You not, but instead operate in the power made available to me through my Helper, the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name, Amen.