Magnified In My Body

Magnified In My Body

Philippians 1:12-20

Introduction:This chapter is saturated with Christ. Remember, the gospel is not about Christ, but is Christ. (Romans 1:16)1:5 – Fellowship (partnership) in the gospel.1:7 – Confirmation (to make stable) of the gospel.1:12 – Furtherance (advancement) of the gospel.1:17 – Defense (apologetics) of the gospel.1:27 – Conversation (live as a citizen of heaven) be as it becometh the gospel.1:27 – Faith (teaching) of the gospel.1:20 - Paul’s desire was for Christ to be magnified through his life. Magnify = meg-al-oo’-no -  to make (or declare) great, that is, increase or (figuratively) extol: - enlarge, magnify, shew great.a.       John the Baptist – John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.b.      Col 1:27 – Christ in you the hope of glory.  Do people see you or Christ from your life.  1.       Christ can not be magnified if we live defeated lives. We must remember that God has a purpose for all things in our lives. (vs. 12)a.       People get confused why “bad things happen to good people”.  b.       God is not mad or angry.  Don’t take offense at God. The man in John  Joh 9:1-3  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.   And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. a.       We are not losing the battle either. (12 - ….rather…)b.      People thought they could shut down Paul but they were only making the gospel spread. (…furtherance…)c.       (vs. 14) many gained courage to speak more boldly about Christ. d.      Rom 8:37 – We are more than conquerors.e.      I Cor 15:57 – Victory through Jesus Christ.f.        Exodus 1:12 – the more they afflicted Israel, the more they grew.g.      Acts 6:7 – Word of God increased.  You can try to burn it, shut down the presses, think it is destroyed only to find it increasing.h.      You can not shut down God!  We win!! 2.      Christ can not be magnified if we live life only for ourselves.a.      Rom 6:11 – I should be dead to sin and alive to God.b.      II Cor 12:7-9 – Paul had problems, but he also had power!c.       (vs. 15a, 16) – Though Paul encouraged some, he enraged others. Not everyone will like you.d.      (vs. 18) It is all about Christ being preached.e.      Col 3:4 – Christ is our life, not just part 3.       Christ will not be magnified if it is not our passion.a.      (vs. 20) earnest expectation – watching, intense anticipation.b.      His hope – confidencec.       He did not want to be ashamed before Christ because he loved him so.d.      Boldness – did not matter what anyone thoughte.      “as always” – not just a one time thing.