Turn, Serve and Wait
I Thessalonians 1:6-10
When Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, they were met with immediate opposition.
a. Acts 17 – had to leave quickly at night.
b. These circumstances would suggest little likelihood of success.
c. Yet those who were converted were so genuine that they became examples for other churches (6-8).
What was their secret of success?
d. Why such a conversion, why such a commitment?
e. The answer lies in three words found in verses 9 and 10.
f. Underline in your Bible; "Turn, serve and wait."
These three words must take place in our lives as well.
They turned from idols (9).
On a clear day from Thessalonica one could look out and see Mt. Olympus, which was supposed to be the home of the Greek gods.
Not something that was easy for them; grew up with them; constant reminders; friends; ridicule; lost jobs; social status.
But Paul said – "You have turned. You made an about face. You have changed directions. You have gotten yourself a new mind and your life is forever changed. No more idols!"
Turning is at the heart of conversion.
Modern religion sophistication and worldly mindsets has minimized turning.
We are talking about repentance.
There are things that must be given up to follow Christ.
a. Gal.2:20
b. Gal. 6:14
"If your religion has not changed you, then you need to change religions."
While literal idols of wood and stone are not our problem, we commit the same sins they did, for idol worship comes from the heart.
We worship the idols of the heart. It is not what God wants; it is what we want that is important to us.
We too must turn from:
a. Worldly lifestyle (I Jn. 2:15).
b. Unscriptural religion (Mt. 15:13-14).
c. Materialism (Col. 3:5).
d. Even honorable distractions. Things right in themselves, but which interfere with faithfulness.
e. Stubbornness (Big idol in the church).
Some have no peace, no joy in their Christianity because… Mt. 6:24.
To serve God (9).
Turning from idols represents the negative. This shows the positive, active side of the Christian life (1:3).
Paul said they turned to serve.
Some of us have turned, but apparently, we didn’t really turn to serve.
"Some have turned to just sit down on the stool of do nothing and whittle away on the stick of do less, and say ‘I’m glory bound, Old Brother so and so baptized me at Piney Slab and I have it made."
Jas. 2:14-23
Profession apart from service misses the mark.
"Too many of us are sitting on the premises instead of standing on the promises."
"Serve" – douleuo – doulos – slave or bondservant (You belong to Christ. He paid for you with His life!)
Ways we serve:
Worship (Notice it is called a "Worship Service.")
Good works
Teaching (Why is it so hard to get teachers here?)
Evangelism (number 1)
To wait for the Lord’s return (10).
Most dread it, but His returning is a blessed event. (We should have the attitude of Rev. 22:20).
What does it mean to wait?
Some have set a date, quit jobs, gone up on a mountain to wait, but this is not what Paul was talking about.
Neither does "wait," mean merely to allow time to pass.
The answer lies in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Mt. 25:1-13.
a. Perpetually prepared - - ready when the time came.
b. Do you think there will come a time later in your life when you will be more ready? If there is then you have a serious problem
"Ladies in waiting" - - "Waiter" in a restaurant.
We should greet each day with the awareness that this might be the day. The awareness of that day moves us to serve.
An old gardener was told; "You keep this garden as if you expect the owner to return tomorrow." The old gardener responded; "Today sir, today. I keep everything in order as if he might return today"
Verses 9-10
You don’t have to keep living in sin giving God the leftovers of life, fearing His coming.
This evening, turn from your sin … serve God, and let’s wait together on the Lord’s return.
James Pharr
Lenoir, NC