1. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

2. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

3. Background to the text Greece – Thessalonica – were primarily pagans All the converts here were formerly idol worshippers Paul says that NOW they are followers of the LIVING GOD HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN AN IDOL AND THE LIVING GOD, JEHOVAH?

4. The Living God vs. Idols 25 "When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the L ORD your God to provoke Him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. Deuteronomy 4:25-26

5. The Living God vs. Idols 27 And the L ORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the L ORD will drive you. 28 And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. Deuteronomy 4:27-28 THE LIVING GOD HAS ALL OF HIS SENSES.

6. God has a sense of SIGHT God sees all 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

7. God has a sense of SIGHT God sees all Then she called the name of the L ORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?" Genesis 16:13

8. God has a sense of TASTE But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

9. God has a sense of TOUCH But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" Job 1:11 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" Job 2:5

10. God has a sense of TOUCH Bow down Your heavens, O L ORD, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Psalms 144:5

11. God has a sense of HEARING For the eyes of the L ORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the L ORD is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:12 God can hear: Our prayers and our profanity Our promises and our lies

12. God has a sense of SMELL Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18 20 Then Noah built an altar to the L ORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the L ORD smelled a soothing aroma. Genesis 8:20-21a

13. Dead Idols are Nothing Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 1 Corinthians 8:4 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

14. Do you worship Idols? We Don’t But We do: Offer our children as human sacrifices to Molech Offer our bodies as prostitutes for the goddess Aphrodite But they are offered on the idol of career, sports, money, entertainment We prostitute our bodies for the god of SUV, house, bass boat, bigger ________, MORE

15. Philippians 3:18-19 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.

16. IDOLS OR THE LIVING GOD? And if it seems evil to you to serve the L ORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the L ORD." Joshua 24:15