God Seeks Unimportant People Philippians 1:13-20 God Seeks Unimportant People Philippians 1:13-20

Freedom (v. 13) Comforts of life (v. 13) Reputation (v. 16) Life itself (v. 20) Of lesser importance “That Christ might be magnified in my body”

Paul Changed Acts 22:2,3 Gal 1:14 Acts 9:1,2 HAD BEEN AN IMPORTANT PERSON Highly Educated Spoke 2 Languages Known by Highest Politicos Became Unimportant How Did This Change Occur? How Did This Change Occur?

HOW PAUL BECOME UNIMPORTANT -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 HOW PAUL BECOME UNIMPORTANT -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Paul Had been a blasphemer, persecutor & injurious Chief of sinners Put into the service of Christ Glorified God Christ Came to save sinners Showed long- suffering, mercy, grace, love, and revealed His word (“faith”) Put Paul into His service Came to bring glory to God

God Seeks Unimportant People Christ was Magnified in Paul His life (Phil 1:20) His mind, Phil. 4:8-9 His personal conduct, 1 Thes. 2:1-7 2 Cor. 7:1 His dedication to spreading the gospel, Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:13-16; 15:19 His death (Phil 1:20) 2 Tim. 4:6-8

Other Persons Put MAGNIFYING THE LORD Above All Else The prophets, Jeremiah 25:3,4 and Acts 7:52 John the Baptist, Mark 1:6,7; 6:14-29 John the Baptist, Mark 1:6,7; 6:14-29 Stephen, Acts 7:51 Stephen, Acts 7:51 Other Persons Put MAGNIFYING THE LORD Above All Else The prophets, Jeremiah 25:3,4 and Acts 7:52 John the Baptist, Mark 1:6,7; 6:14-29 John the Baptist, Mark 1:6,7; 6:14-29 Stephen, Acts 7:51 Stephen, Acts 7:51

That Christ might be magnified in my body

GOD SEEKS UNIMPORTANT PEOPLE What Things Will Diminish Christ In One’s Body?

Self- Importance, Jno. 11:47,48 Christ Of lesser importance

Self-will, Titus 1:7 2 Peter 2:10 Christ Of lesser importance

Self- indulgence, Lk. 12:15-21 Christ Of lesser importance

Self- righteousness, Lk. 18:11,12; Phil. 3:9 Of lesser importance Christ

God Seeks Unimportant People Like Paul Who Made Himself Unimportant Christ was Magnified in Paul’s Life and Death

“…whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:18-20