Heb. 13:4, "Marriage is Honourable in all, and the Bed Undefiled :"

Introduction:

A. We will learn that in the Bible, God's Holy Word, Marriage Is Never Mentioned Apart From The Bed --- and Sex is Always Honorable (Never Condemned) Within Marriage.

B. We will also see that the Average Marriage today, Even Among Christians, is a Far Cry From What Marriage Was In Biblical Days.

C. Along this line, we will see that Godly Wives , in the Bible, were Un-Inhibited In Their Sex Lives.

D. We will also learn that Sex can Increase Your Health.

I. Man Was Created A Sexual Creature By God --- Man Was Not Made To Live Alone.

Genesis 2:18, "And the LORD God said, [Not Good] That The [Man] Should Be [Alone]; I will make him an Help Meet for him."

II. Fellowship With The Animals Was Not Sufficient For Adam --- He Could Not Be Intimate With Them.

Beastology has Always been Condemned By God --- (Lev. 18:23, 20:15-16)

Genesis 2:23, "And Adam said, (With Great Excitement) This now [Bone] Of My Bones, and [Flesh] Of My [Flesh]: (Different Than Animals) she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. {24} Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and They Shall Be One Flesh (Have Sexual Relations). {25} And They Were Both Naked , the man and his wife, and Were Not Ashamed."

III. Paul Gives Sex As A Divine Reason For Marriage.

I Corinthians 7:1-9, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [To Avoid] Fornication , let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency (abandonment). But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."

V. 1, --- "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman."

1. The word "Touch" means to Light A Fire and is a euphemism for Sexual Passion and Activity.

2. Once it is lit, it is very Hard To Extinguish --- and can easily Burn Out of Control.

V. 2, --- "Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

1. Although contrary to human reasoning, Sexual Desire Is a Scriptural & Divine Reason for getting married, "To Avoid Fornication".

2. Paul's Strong Injunctions Against Immorality (1 Cor. 6; 1 Thess. 4:3) show the Absolute Necessity of Moral Purity.

3. Marriage is the Proper Realm for Sexual Expression.

4. Marriage is God's framework where Immorality Does Not Exist --- (Heb. 13:4)

V. 3, --- "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband."

1. The husband and wife are Obligated By God to supply the Sexual Needs of the other.

2. The terms Paul uses in V. 3 view the Marital (Sexual) Responsibilities as a "Debt" that is to be paid --- Rather Than A "Favor" to be extended.

3. It is Improper (Un-Christian) for Either husband or wife To Abstain from relations ----- more about this in V. 5.

V. 4, --- "The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife."

1. Try debating this verse with a modern day Women's Libber.

2. In marriage the Rights an individual has upon his/her own body Ends.

3. Because of the Responsibilities toward one's spouse one partner Cannot be right with God and say, "My Body Is Mine To Do With As I Please."

4. Equality Of The Sexes is stressed in this area of sexual satisfaction. Husband and wife possess the same rights over the body Of The Other.

V. 5, --- " Defraud Ye Not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency ."

1. It Is Fraudulent for one To Abstain from sexual relations with his/her partner.

2. To "Defraud" means to "Take That Which Belongs To Another".

Read again V. 4, --- "The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife."

3. "Incontinency" means "Abandonment"

a. The husband and wife are Not To Abstain but for one exception:

b. If Both agree to do so for a Short time for the purpose of Prayer and Fasting.

c. Anything other than this provides an opportunity for the Devil to tempt you because of your "Incontinency" (Abandonment) of your mate.

d. The Length of Time of Abstinence Is To Be In Direct Proportion To The Length Of Time Spent In Prayer And Fasting.

e. In Other Words, If You Are Not Praying & Fasting, You Should Be Doing Something (?) Else!

V. 6, --- "But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment."

1. "This" probably refers back to V. 2 --- less some take the statement in V. 2 to be an absolute command requiring everyone to marry.

2. Paul is Not Commanding that a person remain single or that they marry. However, he is pointing out that if one Chooses To Marry there are Obligations that goes with that decision.

V. 7, --- "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath His Proper Gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that."

1. Paul at this point in his life was unmarried.

2. Paul received a Spiritual Gift from God that enabled him to be single and not be tempted by immorality.

3. However, God does not give this same Gift of Self-Control to every man and woman.

V. 8, --- "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I."

1. Single life is Nothing To Be Ashamed of --- in fact, Paul calls it Good. There are Definite Advantages to remaining unmarried. (1 Cor. 7:32-33)

2. It is clear that the "good" spoken of here does not mean morally better.

3. If one is not tempted sexually it may be best to remain unmarried.

V. 9, --- "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."

1. Most people do Not Have the Gift of Self-Control that Paul had. This Is Not Sin , it is an indication that they should marry.

2. Even with "the present distress" and the addition of marital responsibilities, it is better to marry than to Burn (live with Unfulfilled Passion) --- (1 Cor. 7:9).

3. It is a Violation Of God's Word for one partner to Defraud the other (steal that which Belongs to another) and thereby Cause him/her to burn with desire Even Though They Are Married.

4. It also Opens The Door Of Temptation --- V. 5.

Godly Wives, In The Bible, Were Un-Inhibited In Their Sex Lives.

Because of the Victorian Age, many people, Especially Women, have Many Hang-Ups about Sex that were Unknown In Biblical Days. In Biblical days there was a Freedom In Sexual Relationships By Both Husband And Wife. There were No Emotional Hang-Ups by either.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5, "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence : and likewise also the wife unto the husband. {4} The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. {5} Defraud ye not one the other , ..."

We will learn that in the Bible, God's Holy Word, Marriage Is Never Mentioned Apart From The Bed --- and Sex is Always Honorable (Never Condemned) Within Marriage. God created sex and is always Un-Inhibited and Never Embarrassed in talking about it.

The Husband Describes His Wife.

Song of Solomon 6:4-7:, "Thou beautiful, O my love, ..... 7:1, "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. {2} Thy navel a round goblet, wanteth not liquor: thy belly an heap of wheat set about with lilies. {3} Thy two breasts like two young roes twins. {4} Thy neck as a tower of ivory; thine eyes the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. {5} Thine head upon thee like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king held in the galleries. {6} How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! {7} This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters . {8} I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; {9} And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak."

Sometimes, the Wife Takes The Initiative in Love Making.

Song of Solomon 7:10-13, "I my beloved's, and his desire toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. {12} Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, the tender grape appear, the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. {13} The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates all manner of pleasant , new and old, I have laid up for thee, O my beloved."

Genesis 18:12, "Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have [pleasure] , my lord being old also?"

1 Peter 3:6, "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: [whose daughters] ye are , ... "

Genesis 26:8, "And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac [sporting] with Rebekah his wife ." --- They were un-inhibited.

Is Sex Good For Your Health?

According to recent findings, Sex Can Help You Live Longer, Prevent Sickness And Heal Whatever Ails You.

From Building Up The Immune System to Relieving Chronic Pain, Stiffness and Migraines --- and even Preventing Heart Disease --- "sex has Unheralded Healing Powers," proclaims Judith Sachs, a sex education, medical writer and author of The Healing Power of Sex (Prentice-Hall, 1994).

"Sex and health have been rudely split apart in the past decade because of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases," Ms. Sachs says. "The health-promoting powers have been neglected. We will survive longer and better if we tap into the healing power of our sexuality."

There's no question that A Fulfilling Sex Life Will Keep You In Good Health, says Dr. Alexander Lowen, a psychiatrist and executive director of the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis in New York City. "But there's no way you can work to make it fulfilling. If you are the kind of Person Who Is Capable of A Fulfilling Relationship and you are Open To Love, satisfying, healthy sex follows."

"A Prime Risk Factor For Heart Disease Is Lack of Love --- not sentimental love but (sexually) fulfilling love," Dr. Lowen says.

In his book, Love, Sex and Your Heart (Arcana Press, 1994), Dr. Lowen cites two studies suggesting that Men And Women Who Are Sexually Satisfied Are Much Less Likely To Develop Heart Disease.

In one study of 100 women hospitalized for heart attacks, 65 Percent reported sexual dissatisfaction or frigidity.

In another study, involving 131 men between the ages of 31 and 86 who had been hospitalized for heart attacks, Two-Thirds of The Men said they suffered from serious sexual difficulties --- in the period just prior to their heart attacks.

"Sex Is A Great Stress Reliever", says Dr. Reed Moskowitz, director of the stress-disorders medical service at the New York University Medical Center.

"In sexual activity, the Endocrine And Musculature Systems Are Engaged In Peak Pleasurable Experience, which Releases Built-Up Tension and acts as an Antidote To The Adrenaline-Based Stress Response."

By Reducing Stress, sexual intimacy may also Promote Improved Immune Function. Stress is associated with a reduction in Protective T-Cell Counts and Beta-Endorphin Activity.

Alleviating stress, however, Enhances The Body's Ability To Ward Off Disease by Increasing Naturel Killer Cells and Increasing Endorphin Production.

Traditionally, it has been thought that sexual activity makes migraines worse. However, Dr. James R. Couch, chairman of neurology at the University of Oklahoma Medical School, has evidence to the contrary.

Dr. Couch suggests there is a link between the limbic system --- the primitive part of the brain --- and the migraine-generating mechanism. Put simply, the relief involves a migraine inhibitor that originates in the limbic system.

But "while sexual release probably gives some help, most women with migraines don't want to be touched, let alone have sex," Dr. Moskowitz says.

Endorphins, the natural opiates produced by the brain during strenuous physical activity or sexual intercourse, can block pain. Two of them are known to increase with exercise by as much as 500 percent in the bloodstream and probably more in the brain itself, producing euphoria and exhilaration.

Sex is also known to relieve back pain and arthritis and is a safer analgesic than those on the market.

"It is not a panacea for all that ails the world, or it would have worked already," Dr. Moskowitz says. " What is most healing is a loving relationship --- sexuality in the context of intimacy and bonding."

(Dallas Morning News --- 2/27/95)

W. A. Criswell:

In the 80s, W. A. Criswell preached a sermon out of a Redbook survey that indicated that evangelical married women were the most sexually satisfied in America. Dr. Criswell told his congregation; the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas; that "A good Christian girl would love her husband until he couldn't stand up and would have to be carried out in a wheelbarrow." This, of course, made the newspapers. However, his statement is a whole lot closer to the teaching of the Bible than most couples' hangups.

If You Are Not Saved, Nothing Else Matters