Intimacy In Marriage Series

Title: Intimacy in Marriage

Text:1 Cor. 7:2-11

Introduction

This is part 3 of a 4 part series in Marriage. This sermon was given on Sunday August 23 by Tony Hamiliton who is the worship leader at Calvary Assembly of God

1. What is biblical intimacy?

Today we are going to talk about intimacy. This is an area that most people rarely talk about especially in the church, but God and His word have lots to say about it. When most people hear that word intimacy nowadays, they think of sex. But to God, physical sexual intimacy is only a part of overall intimacy. Intimacy is having a very close connection with another. This involves every aspect of the person; physical, emotional, intellectual; and spiritual. It is having detailed knowledge of the other person in all these areas. So, in our marriages, we need to really evaluate how well we really know our spouse.

So, lets see what the God has to say about intimacy in our marriages

Text: 1 Corinthians chapter 7:2-11 (NLT)

2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

2. How can you be more intimate with your spouse

A. Thru Cooperation

3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.

One way to be more intimate in our marriage is by sharing, cooperating. When we got married, we were joined to our spouse. we left our parents and become one with our spouse. That means we are to share everything. its not 50 50 split, but 100% for both. In the verse, Paul is talking about how we belong to our spouses. He isn’t saying that one spouse owns the other one. He is saying that what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. He is talking specifically about sex and our bodies belong to our spouse, but it goes deeper then that. Everything we have belongs to our spouse. We should now be one being, one body, one mind, one spirit.

B. Thru Commitment - faithful

10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

- Another way to increase intimacy with our spouse is thru our commitment to each other. A marriage is an exclusive relationship between 1 man and 1 woman. We see God’s design for marriage in Genesis, Adam and Eve. That is God’s design. The bible warns in many places about being unfaithful in our marriage and the devil so wants to destroy marriages. He will tempt you everyday. We are bombarded every day with tv, music, billboards, amgazine covers, websites, emails, and on and on. Sexual temptation is everywhere.

In Matthew 5 it says"You have heard that it was said, ’Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

In the book of Revelation, we see this warning,

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."Rev 21:8