TITLE: Idols vs. the Living God

TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
PROPOSITION: Our God is a living God, not a dead idol.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Senses
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. In Thessalonica – the converts were former pagans, idol worshippers
2. Paul says that NOW they are followers of the LIVING GOD.
3. How can you tell the difference in an idol and Jehovah?

The Living and True God

1. Deuteronomy 4:25-28
2. God has all of the 5 senses.

God has a sense of sight

1. Sees all
2. Hebrews 4:12
3. Genesis 16:13

God has a sense of taste

1. Hebrews 2:9

God has a sense of touch

2. Job 1:11
3. Job 2:5
4. Psalm 144:5

God has a sense of hearing

1. 1 Peter 3:12

God has a sense of smell

1. Philippians 4:18

The Dead Idols

1. Offer nothing
2. They are nothing – 1 Corinthians 8:4
3. They take everything away from God
4. Colossians 3:5
5. We might not think that we worship an idol:
   1. Offer our child as a burnt offering in the belly of Molech
   2. BUT we offer them on the idol of career, money, sports, entertainment
   3. We would not offer our bodies as prostitutes for the goddess Aphrodite
   4. BUT we prostitute our bodies to the god of SUV, house, bass boat
   5. Philippians 3:18-19
6. Our idols of covetousness really offer nothing eternal, nothing spiritual

Conclusion:

1. Choose which you will serve – Joshua 24:15
2. Idols OR the Living God