Prayer and Sex, Part 2 (Praying Through the Bible #242, Part 2)

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 7:1-6

In this passage, Paul responds to questions regarding celibacy and marriage that had been sent to him from the church at Corinth. Even though Paul, speaking with “permission” from the Lord, says that it is good for men and women to be celibate, he also provides guidelines for those who are unable to remain so. In verse 4, speaking of sex within marriage, he writes that the wife's body belongs to the husband and the husband's body belongs to the wife. He says that neither the husband nor the wife should "defraud" or "deprive" the other of sexual relations. The reason for this command is because deprivation opens up the door for the temptation of adultery. If a husband and wife are not coming together, they must consider whether they are abstaining for legitimate reasons or whether they are just giving the devil room to work.