1 Peter 4
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1) Let us always bear in mind, whatever we do, that the end of all things draws near.
Everything which may seem so vivid and real to us today – the pleasures of this world, promiscuity and other sin – the end thereof is near.
Though Satan might tempt you sorely, know that the allurement of that temptation will also soon come to an end. Expect temptation to come, but the Lord Jesus gives the victory. Even our Lord was sorely tempted, but He overcame. If He lives in you, He lives His life of victory in you so that you too might overcome sin and satan. Conversely, if His life is not in you, temptation will be a trouble to you and constantly draw you into sin.
2) Control your lusts.
A certain man had a lust-problem and could not take his eyes off attractive-looking women who dress provocatively. One day he was driving in his brand new car and such a woman walked down the street. He stared at her, did not look where he was driving and hit a pole. His brand new car was badly damaged. He jumped from the car in great anger and shouted at the woman, “Why do you dress like that and cause me to drive into the pole!” He was passing the buck for his own sin; a jellyfish of a man.
No, when Jesus lives in you, He gives you the victory over lust too.
Many Christians and even preachers of the Gospel are nowadays defiled by pornography on the internet; and it’s even freely available on cell phones. These preachers cannot preach with authority anymore, because they are defiled by this smut.
Revelation 22
11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Job 31
1 I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman / virgin [New Living Translation]
If you feed your lusts they will destroy you eventually.
3) Discipline yourself. Be serious and watchful at all times.
There are things in your life which, if you let them go unchecked, they will destroy you and even endanger your very salvation. You are still in the flesh and in this sinful body. Rebuke your eyes and any evil thought-pattern. Rebuke animal-instincts lest they make you bestial.
4) Prayer is a major theme in the Bible and so too must be a major theme in the life of any Christian. Some people do not know how to pray themselves – they live off the prayers and goodwill of others.
We must pray in faith. Do not pray long, repetitive and general prayers.
A fool expects a house to be built while he sleeps. So too your prayers must be accompanied by the appropriate action. If a farmer prays for a good crop then he must remove the stones, plough the field, and sow good seed.
5) “Above all have fervent love for one another.”
God is pure Love. He sent His only Begotten Son to die and suffer on the cross for us so that we might be saved from eternal death. Having given us the Best He had, how then will God withhold any good thing from us?
His Love continues perpetually and is not dictated by circumstances.
His Love covers a multitude of sin, so that if you have experienced His Love, you can no longer gossip about the shortcomings of your brethren.
6) Hospitality without grumbling
We must serve and minister to each other in Love. Be hospitable and receive strangers, as our Lord has said that what we do to the least in the Kingdom of Heaven we have done unto Him.
7) Server each other
Make use of the gifts God has given you. If you can express yourself well, use this gift to bring glory to God.
When you speak, let it be God speaking through you.