This document discusses physical and emotional intimacy in marriage. It summarizes a passage from 1 Corinthians 7 that says sexual relations are good within marriage between a man and woman. Marriage can contain strong sexual drives and provide a balanced sexual life. The marriage bed should be a place of mutuality where partners seek to satisfy each other. Marriage is about serving the other person, not standing up for your rights. Abstaining from sex is allowed if both agree and it's for prayer and fasting, but then they should come back together. True understanding of physical intimacy requires understanding God's purposes for marriage, which is difficult due to its private nature and how society has distorted its meaning.

1. PHYSICAL AND
EMOTIONAL INTIMACY
IN MARRIAGE PART 1
May 23, 2013
1

2. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES
May 23, 2013
2
 To have a marriage that really lasts,
you must have a sincere physical and
emotional intimacy.

3. May 23, 2013
3
 1 Corinthians 7:1-7
 “Now, gettingdownto thequestions
youaskedinyourletterto me. First, Is
it agoodthingto havesexual
relations?Certainly--but onlywithina
certaincontext. It's goodforamanto
haveawife, andforawomanto have
ahusband.

4. May 23, 2013
4
 Sexual drives arestrong, but marriage
is strongenoughto containthemand
provideforabalancedandfulfilling
sexual lifeinaworldof sexual
disorder.

5.  Themarriagebedmust beaplaceof
mutuality--thehusbandseekingto
satisfyhis wife, thewifeseekingto
satisfyherhusband.

6. May 23, 2013
6
 Marriageis not aplaceto "standup
foryourrights." Marriageis adecision
to servetheother, whetherinbedor
out. Abstainingfromsexis permissible
foraperiodof timeif youbothagree
to it, andif it's forthepurposes of
prayerandfasting--but onlyforsuch
times. Thencomebacktogetheragain.

7. May 23, 2013
7
 Satanhas aningenious wayof temptingus
whenweleast expect it. I'mnot,
understand, commandingtheseperiods of
abstinence--onlyprovidingmybest counsel
if youshouldchoosethem.

8.  Sometimes Iwisheveryoneweresinglelikeme--
asimplerlifeinmanyways! But celibacyis not
foreveryoneanymorethanmarriageis. God
gives thegift of thesinglelifeto some, thegift of
themarriedlifeto others”.(MSG)

9. May 23, 2013
9
 This lesson has been a very revealing one
that has caused me to be overwhelmed
with concern. I am very concerned
because this is a very private and delicate
subject. Yet, I amalso concerned because
this is a very important subject that needs
special attention.

10.  I amconcerned because this is one
area that Satan is probably working
the hardest in trying to destroy our
marriages.

11. May 23, 2013
11
 To truly understand the meaning of
physical intimacy we must understand it
in the complete light of the purposes of
marriage. This is the most difficult part
of the steps and I believe it is because of
its complex and private nature.

12.  Also, I believe it is important
because oursociety has so twisted
intimacy to mean fardifferent than
what God planned forit to mean.

13.  Continue to digest more of this topic
in Part 2 .