In 1 Cor 16:13, Paul gave the Corinthians four imperatives to follow.  These four orders are particularly important to us in these last days.  You know how you keep Phil 4:8 before you to guide your thoughts.  It’s an easy verse to remember.  Your thoughts must be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report.  You know how Jesus said that he is the way, the truth, and the life.  It’s an easy verse to remember.  In the same way, you want to keep these four things before you to guide you through every day that you live for the Lord.  The four imperatives are:

Watch – “watch ye.”  To watch is to stay awake.  1 Thes 5:6, Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  2 Tim 4:5 Watch thou in all things.  We have to be like a shepherd who watches over his flock, alert to every possible harm to the sheep.  We need to watch for each other.  We need to watch for lost souls to whom we can preach the gospel.  We need to watch for the return of Jesus, Titus 2:13.

Stand fast – “stand fast in the faith.” To stand fast is to hold your ground.  1 Cor 15:58, says, “unmoveable.”  As in Col 1:23 we need to be grounded and settled.  Everything around us is getting further and further from the Lord.  We cannot lose our ground. 

Quit – “quit you like men.”  1 Sam 4:9, quit yourselves like men, and fight.  You quit yourself when you perform something to the end, you clear yourself of your duties by full performance.  Bob Jones, Sr said simply, “Finish the job.”  Everyday you work, you want to finish the job that God has put before you.  

Be Strong – “be strong.”  Eph 3:16, we are strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.  Eph 6:10, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  David said, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God,” Ps 71:16.  No matter the condition of your health or the physical strength of your body, the Lord always strengthens you to be able to do what he wants you to do for him.

Conclusion: Everyday you rise, run these four imperatives through your mind and recognize that these are four things that must be done for the Lord each day.