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Marshall Shelly, the editor of Leadership Journal, tells the story of a pastor friend who moved into a new town and attended a local pastors’ meeting. Being the new guy, he was asked to pray. As he closed his prayer, he meant to say, “And Lord give us continued good success.” But it didn’t come out that way. In a loud “preacher’s praying voice,” he said, “And Lord give us continued good sex.” The room froze. The pastor was mortified. Then finally, from the back of the room, someone yelled out a hearty “Amen!” He said, “They asked me to pray quite often after that.”
We do want good…sex. And it is the responsibility of the husband and wife to fulfill each other’s needs.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Sex is both mutually satisfying and mutually submissive. The husband and wife are to “yield” to each other. There is nothing more frustrating to a man than to save himself for his wife only to be rejected. And there is nothing more frustrating to a wife than to be committed to her husband only to feel used.
Sex is both pleasurable and practical. In the act of intimacy, a husband and wife enjoy the experience, reaffirm their covenant, and meet physical needs. Intimacy thwarts Satan’s temptations.
Father, thank you for the gift of sex. May we use this great gift to satisfy our spouse. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
These devo messages on sex within marriage are excellent.
Unfortunately, many pastors shy away from teaching these important Bible based doctrines.