MAINTENANCE by W. G. Guy
Too many people fail to recognize the importance of maintenance. Maintenance is the practice of systematic servicing to maintain the function and smooth operation of an object they care about. A car needs regular maintenance to keep it running reliably and safely. The same applies to aircraft which requires an even more strict schedule of maintenance. Failure to properly maintain any mechanical device will result in an eventual failure of that item.
However, even more attention to maintenance is required in the marital relationships between a husband and wife. If maintenance is ignored, then the relationship is taken for granted. This can lead to the deterioration and eventually break down that relationship; just as with any car, airplane or mechanical item, maintenance is required.
Applying proper and timely maintenance takes effort and attention to details. Ignoring or failing to notice even minor problems that need attention can lead to devastating consequences. Yet there is a much more important area of maintenance that is too often neglected. This involves a believer’s relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
What most born-again believers fail to realize is that their relationship with God, our Heavenly father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, also requires regular maintenance. In fact, it needs daily maintenance, not just Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday; nor even once a week on Sunday. Ignoring the need to maintain this relationship weakens it; and many believers put such maintenance on the “back burner” meaning it is not a priority in their lives.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Many believers assume the Lord’s care for them, and do not consciously and purposefully seek Him. Maintaining our relationship with the Lord requires daily communication and study in His Word to build on that relationship to a greater level of intimacy. Failure to do this daily maintenance means you are taking His care for you and your family for granted; that you may be missing out on special things He wants to reveal to you, or particular instructions and guidance that He offers. This means you are doing things on you own as to directions you need and decisions you must make. Our daily lives are filled with concerns and activities that we need help with, even though we may not realize it.
Luke 21:34-36 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Matthew 13:22 – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
We get so involved with the cares and affairs of daily life that such activity crowds out the time for spiritual maintenance that we need daily. Some are even so caught up in “their ministry” that they lack the time of intimate fellowship with the Lord. Jesus gave us an example of this very condition:
Luke 10:38-42 – Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
This daily maintenance is like recharging your spiritual battery that runs down. You have got to connect with the power source to maintain a spiritual charge. This daily maintenance also keeps you from experiencing “burn-out”.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-20 – Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings.
(Note: prophesying means inspired speaking which includes preaching and teaching by God’s true servants; so avail yourselves to their input into your lives.)
If you don’t like the idea of charging your spiritual battery then consider it like running out of spiritual gasoline to the point that your spiritual input sputters to a stop until you get refilled.
There are those in the ministry who run on their own means and ways having no real input from the Lord as to how to minister in His ways. These are the ones who have either neglected their relationship with the Lord, or do not have one.
Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity:
Obviously the above verse is about those who were preaching and teaching as in doing the work of the ministry, but they had a problem; they were doing things their own way. They did not know Jesus intimately enough to know His will and His way. They had no maintenance schedule to spend time with Him to get to know Him and how He wanted them to do the work of the ministry. The word knew that Jesus used referring to them is the same word used when a husband knows his wife in the most intimate way. Such ministers were not intimate in their relationship with the Lord; they had knowledge of Him but no relationship with Him – they were doing their own thing.
Please put forth effort to maintain your relationship with the Lord; do not neglect your daily bread:
Matthew 5:9-13 – After this manner therefore pray ye (these are things to pray about daily): Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Also, husbands as you do your daily maintenance with the Lord, do also in maintaining your relationship with your wife.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Conclusion: your relationship with the Lord should not only be maintained, but also needs to be elevated due to the ever increasing opposition from the world and the evil one in these last days.
Too many people fail to recognize the importance of maintenance. Maintenance is the practice of systematic servicing to maintain the function and smooth operation of an object they care about. A car needs regular maintenance to keep it running reliably and safely. The same applies to aircraft which requires an even more strict schedule of maintenance. Failure to properly maintain any mechanical device will result in an eventual failure of that item.
However, even more attention to maintenance is required in the marital relationships between a husband and wife. If maintenance is ignored, then the relationship is taken for granted. This can lead to the deterioration and eventually break down that relationship; just as with any car, airplane or mechanical item, maintenance is required.
Applying proper and timely maintenance takes effort and attention to details. Ignoring or failing to notice even minor problems that need attention can lead to devastating consequences. Yet there is a much more important area of maintenance that is too often neglected. This involves a believer’s relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
What most born-again believers fail to realize is that their relationship with God, our Heavenly father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, also requires regular maintenance. In fact, it needs daily maintenance, not just Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday; nor even once a week on Sunday. Ignoring the need to maintain this relationship weakens it; and many believers put such maintenance on the “back burner” meaning it is not a priority in their lives.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Many believers assume the Lord’s care for them, and do not consciously and purposefully seek Him. Maintaining our relationship with the Lord requires daily communication and study in His Word to build on that relationship to a greater level of intimacy. Failure to do this daily maintenance means you are taking His care for you and your family for granted; that you may be missing out on special things He wants to reveal to you, or particular instructions and guidance that He offers. This means you are doing things on you own as to directions you need and decisions you must make. Our daily lives are filled with concerns and activities that we need help with, even though we may not realize it.
Luke 21:34-36 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Matthew 13:22 – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
We get so involved with the cares and affairs of daily life that such activity crowds out the time for spiritual maintenance that we need daily. Some are even so caught up in “their ministry” that they lack the time of intimate fellowship with the Lord. Jesus gave us an example of this very condition:
Luke 10:38-42 – Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
This daily maintenance is like recharging your spiritual battery that runs down. You have got to connect with the power source to maintain a spiritual charge. This daily maintenance also keeps you from experiencing “burn-out”.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-20 – Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings.
(Note: prophesying means inspired speaking which includes preaching and teaching by God’s true servants; so avail yourselves to their input into your lives.)
If you don’t like the idea of charging your spiritual battery then consider it like running out of spiritual gasoline to the point that your spiritual input sputters to a stop until you get refilled.
There are those in the ministry who run on their own means and ways having no real input from the Lord as to how to minister in His ways. These are the ones who have either neglected their relationship with the Lord, or do not have one.
Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity:
Obviously the above verse is about those who were preaching and teaching as in doing the work of the ministry, but they had a problem; they were doing things their own way. They did not know Jesus intimately enough to know His will and His way. They had no maintenance schedule to spend time with Him to get to know Him and how He wanted them to do the work of the ministry. The word knew that Jesus used referring to them is the same word used when a husband knows his wife in the most intimate way. Such ministers were not intimate in their relationship with the Lord; they had knowledge of Him but no relationship with Him – they were doing their own thing.
Please put forth effort to maintain your relationship with the Lord; do not neglect your daily bread:
Matthew 5:9-13 – After this manner therefore pray ye (these are things to pray about daily): Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Also, husbands as you do your daily maintenance with the Lord, do also in maintaining your relationship with your wife.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Conclusion: your relationship with the Lord should not only be maintained, but also needs to be elevated due to the ever increasing opposition from the world and the evil one in these last days.