Introduction: Most homes in America are in ruins due to the breakdown of intimacy in the marriage. God has a plan for marriage and it involves intimacy.

 “Live joyfully with the wife whom you love”    (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

 “Rejoice with the wife of your youth.  And always be enraptured with her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19)

Biblical Pictures of Intimacy

• Procreation  (Genesis 1:28)

• Partnership  (Genesis 2:18)

• Pleasure (Song of Solomon)

• Privilege

Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:2-5--AMP)

• Practical

“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 

It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 

Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a--AMP)

• Perfection (Ephesians 5:25-30)

• Perpetual (Ephesians 5:31)

Reasons Couples Lose Their Intimacy

• Runs on a personal deficit

• Encounters a crisis

• Becomes bored (stuck in a rut)

• Hurts each other

• Invests no longer

Ways to Rebuild Intimacy:

• Spice up the ordinary

• Share enjoyable activities

• Work at personal development (don’t quit trying)

• Discover one another (invest in the marriage)  (1 Peter 3:7)

               Greatest Need  (Ephesians 5:33)

                    --husband—respected 

                    --wife—cherished 

               Love Language

                    --words of affirmation

                    --quality time

                    --receiving gifts

                    --acts of service

                    --physical touch

• Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:29-32)

Application: God desires that couples enjoy one another and find intimacy at every level—spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.