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Following is an excerpt of "Growing Is God's Plan (1 of 10)" by David Cawston added on 06/16/2005.
This content is part of a series.
Growing Is God's Plan (1 of 10)
David Cawston
Philippians 1:1-11


Introduction:
1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

History of the Philippians Church
The church at Philippi was established as a result of Paul's Macedonian vision. He saw a man from Macedonia Acts 16:9-10
9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." NIV
Paul had been wondering since leaving Derbe and Lystra.
Acts 16:6-8
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. NIV
He had taken young Timothy with him from that region to travel as an assistant.
This journey had taken about 73 days!

You need to see that Paul in every circumstance of life has a victorious attitude!
He doesn't let a little resistance or wandering get him down!
He views nothing as a waste of time!
He views it all as God working out His plan in your life.
Paul exhibits a victorious attitude!
What a victorious attitude!
You will see that throughout this epistle he continues to encourage them to have the same attitude of victory.
He is never a victim.
He want us to develop the same attitude!
We will continue looking at this throughout our study together.

Now with clear direction he goes to Philippi and Acts 16:13-15
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 one of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. NIV
Now in time Paul silences a slave girl who was into fortune telling!
He rebuked the evil spirit from her and she lost this fortune telling powers!
Now her owners were angry and brought false accusations against him.
Acts 16:20-21
"These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." NIV
Paul and Silas another companion with Paul are beaten and thrown into prison.
Again you see this victorious attitude of Paul!
Acts 16:25-26
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. NIV
About midnight a great earthquake shakes the jail ...

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