1 Peter 4 - CEVUS06 & ONDB

1. Growth

1 Corinthians 3:1-3
“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it…”

Similar to how babies rely on their mother’s milk to grow, you also require the nourishment of God’s Word to mature and flourish spiritually. As believers of God, your primary need is spiritual nourishment. Just like pure milk, God’s Word serves as your spiritual food that enables us to thrive.

By being nourished, you grow as the life of God increases within you. Jesus, as a man on earth, lived his life this way, serving as an excellent model for you to follow. Your hunger can only be satisfied when you live not only on physical food, but also on God’s Word. This is how you can find satisfaction and strength to continue living the Christian life.

2. Guidance

Isaiah 30:20 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Did you know that the Bible acts as a treasure trove of wisdom if you are seeking guidance in life. It’s a powerhouse of insights and knowledge that can help you navigate life’s twists and turns, make better choices, and grow towards spiritual and emotional maturity. The Bible also helps us to grow in resilience and in our actions.

3. To hear God’s voice

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Effective communication is important in any relationship, and God is the conductor of life’s symphony. The Bible acts as a portal for you to hear God’s voice with clarity and wisdom, leading to discernment and righteous actions that glorify Christ.

4. Because its eternal

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”

The promises in the Bible stay with you forever as you read the Bible each day. Unlike worldly things that eventually fade, the teachings rooted in Christ endure. By reading the Bible, you discover what is eternal and can apply these principles to your daily lives on earth so that you can live with an eternal perspective in the here and now.

5. It keeps you from sin

Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Having a strong foundation in God’s Word is essential for living a Christian life, shaping you into the image of Christ, renewing your minds, and keeping you from sin. Reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible helps you gain an understanding of God, Jesus’ teachings, and how to live a faithful life and to stay on the right track.

Being Faithful to God

1 Christ suffered here on earth. Now you must be ready to suffer as he did, because suffering shows that you have stopped sinning. 2 It means you have turned from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. 3 You have already lived long enough like people who don't know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on. In fact, you even worshiped disgusting idols. 4 Now your former friends wonder why you have stopped running around with them, and they curse you for it. 5 But they will have to answer to God, who judges the living and the dead. 6 The good news has even been preached to the dead, so that after they have been judged for what they have done in this life, their spirits will live with God.

7 Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.

8 Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.

9 Welcome people into your home and don't grumble about it.

10 Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. 11 If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. 13 Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.

14 Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God's glorious Spirit is with you. 15 But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody. 16 Don't be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him. 17 God has already begun judging his own people. And if his judgment begins with us, imagine how terrible it will be for those who refuse to obey his message. The Scriptures say,

18 “If good people barely escape,

what will happen to sinners

and to others

who don't respect God?”

19 If you suffer for obeying God, you must have complete faith in your faithful Creator and keep on doing right.

Okukalamwenyo okupe

1 Ano Kristus sho e ehamekwa palutu, nane wo ikumikeni nelalakano ndika. Oshoka kehe ngoka te ehamekwa palutu, oye ote etha uulunde. 2 Onkee ano okuza kongashingeyi methimbo ndyoka lya hupu ko lyokukalamwenyo kweni kwokombanda yevi, inamu etha, mu pangelwe kuuhalu wopantu, ihe pangelweni kehalo lyaKalunga. 3 Oshoka osha gwana, sho mwa kala nale hamu longo iilonga ya faathana noyaapagani. Omwa kala muukeeneidhiliko, muuhalu, muunkolwi, muufukedhi, momanwino nomiihuna yesimaneko lyiimenka. 4 Onkee ano aapagani oya kumwa notaye mu sheke nokuli, sho itaamu ya holele mokukala muuholume nomokwaaidhilika. 5 Ihe oye na oku ki ihokolola koshipala shaKalunga, ngoka ta ka pangula aanamwenyo naasi. 6 Shika osho sha ningitha, elaka etoye li uvithilwe wo aasi, oomboka mokukala kwawo kombanda yevi ya pangulwa ngaashi aantu ayehe. Oyo oyu uvithilwa, opo mokukalamwenyo kwawo kwopambepo ya kale ye na omwenyo, ngaashi Kalunga e na omwenyo.

Aatonateli aawanawa yomagano gaKalunga

7 Ehulilo lyiinima ayihe oli li popepi. Omu na okwiikwata nawa nomwa tonata, opo mu vule okugalikana. 8 Komeho gaayihe holathaneni nomwenyo aguhe, oshoka ohole ohayi siikile omayono ogendji. 9 Yakuleni aayenda momagumbo geni mwaa na omangungutulo. 10 Kehe gumwe na longithe omagano ngoka e ga pewa okukwatha yakwawo, ongaashi sho opalela aatonateli aawanawa yomagano gaKalunga gi ili nogi ili. 11 Ngoka tu uvitha, nu uvithe oohapu dhaKalunga. Ngoka ta yakula, na yakule koonkondo ndhoka e dhi pewa kuKalunga. Opo kehe shimwe shi simanekithe Kalunga molwaJesus Kristus, ngoka e na eadhimo noonkondo aluhe sigo aluhe. Amen.

Omahepeko gomukriste

12 Ookuume kandje aaholike, inamu kuminwa emakelo elulu ndyoka mu li mulyo ngashingeyi ongoshinima inaamu shi mona nale. 13 Ihe nyanyukweni, sho mu na oshitopolwa momahepeko gaKristus, opo mu ka nyanyukwe nokuligola, uuna eadhimo lye tali ka hololwa. 14 Ngele otamu shekwa molwaasho tamu landula Kristus, one aanelago, oshoka Ombepo yuuyelele, Ombepo yaKalunga, oyi li kombanda yeni. 15 Inaku kala gumwe gwomokati keni ta hepekwa molwaasho oye omudhipagi nenge omufuthi nenge omukolokoshi nenge ngoka hi itula miinima yayakwawo. 16 Ihe ngele otamu hepekwa molwaasho one aakriste, inamu sa ohoni, ihe panduleni Kalunga, sho mu na edhina lyaKristus.

17 Ethimbo lyepangulo lyaKalunga olya thikana, naantu yaKalunga otse tatu pangulwa tango. Ngele epangulo otali tameke natse, ehulilo lyalyo otali ka kala lya tya ngiini kumboka inaa itaala elaka etoye lya za kuKalunga? 18 Ongaashi enyolo tali ti:

“Ngele ehupitho lyomuyuuki okonyala,

ngoka kee na Kalunga nomulunde ota ningwa ngiini?”

19 Onkee ano mboka taa hepekwa molwaasho ehalo lyaKalunga osho tali ti, naa longe uuwanawa nokwiiyethela mOmushiti gwawo omwiinekelwa.