Written by Pastor Godson Benneth

Intimacy is the dedication of a meaningful amount of time, emotion, affection and attention to someone. Intimacy is sharing measures of vulnerability with someone with your dignity intact. Sharing vulnerable without feeling bad about it or thinking of being used is priceless. Most things people suppose for intimacy are not. Many people suppose sexual sessions for intimacy, but that’s not the standard. You can have sexual intercourse with someone but not be intimate with the person. Adam shared a measure of intimacy with Eve before sexual intercourse came into the picture.

Genesis 2:21-25

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Because of their gaze on celestial glory at the time, and their access to eternal fellowship, they couldn’t subscribe to the inferior expressions of intimacy. It was after their exit from Eden, after the fall, that they explored the inferior expression of intimacy which is sexual intercourse (Genesis 4:1). Sexual intercourse can enslave you to someone through desire but it doesn’t guarantee intimacy. All the relationships that enjoy intimacy lasted longer than the ones contracted based on the desire to explore a nicely assembled body. Some things sustain meaningful relationships beyond feelings because feelings are fleeting.

Intimacy has privileges. There are things that people enjoy when they have secured intimacy with someone or spirits. Jacob spoke about the redemption he enjoyed from an Angel that was a product of intimacy (Gen 48:16). David swore to Bathsheba by the God who had redeemed him from all distress (1 Kings 1:29). That privilege is birthed from intimacy. Elijah spoke from his stand in God that there will not be dew nor rain in Israel until he approves (1 Kings 17:1). Intimacy gives you a stand at the table of relevance. It guarantees a spot for you in the heart of spirits or people.

Everyone loves the privileges of intimacy but not everyone works to cultivate it. Intimacy doesn’t just happen, it is cultivated intentionally. People are deliberate in breeding intimacy. We don’t wish for intimacy but breed it. Who are you breeding intimacy with? It will count in the days of adversity. Everyone must be remembered for battles, honour and promotion. Your intimacy and with who counts in the hour you will need intervention.