Superbook

Lesson:

Strive to seek God rather than earthly power.

Extras

• Adventure Guide

  • 

    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    Philip - Family Discussion Guide

• Q & A

  • What should we seek while on earth?

    Simon the Sorcerer liked the feeling of power. For many years he claimed to be great and soaked up the praise of the people. Acts:8:10 says, “ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” However, things changed when Philip came to Samaria. The people believed God’s Word and were amazed at the signs and miracles that accompanied Philip. In fact, his ministry was so powerful that even Simon believed and was baptized! Simon then followed Philip everywhere he went.
    
    He was attracted and amazed by the miracles that Philip performed by God’s power. (Acts:8:5-7, Acts:8:12-13) When Peter and John came to Samaria, they laid hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. Simon wanted this power so much that he offered money to buy it from Peter! Peter rebuked him and revealed that Simon’s heart was not right with God. It was full of jealousy, wickedness, and sin. Simon was probably sincere when he first believed and was baptized.
    
    Yet, instead of seeking God and a closer relationship with Him, Simon sought God’s power first. It seems he wanted to attract large crowds again and amaze those who followed him, just like Philip. Simon was all about earthly power and fame. (Acts:8:14-23). As followers of Christ, we are to seek God above all else. Colossians:3:1-2 says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
    
    Simon set his sights on the things of the world and thought about what he could do with God’s power for his own benefit. Matthew:6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” God never tells us to seek power on this earth. He tells us to seek His face and live for Him. He promises then to give us all we need. Jesus, when He came to earth, refused to set up an earthly kingdom even when His followers tried to make Him king.
    
    Jesus instead came to seek God, to do His will on the earth, and to prepare us to live with Him in God’s spiritual kingdom. (John:6:15, John:18:36) Instead of seeking earthly power, we are to live to serve God and humble ourselves before Him. When we do that, He will exalt and lift us up at the right time. 1 Peter:5:6 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you
    

    • Colossians 3:2

  • How will God guide me?

    Philip was selected along with six other men who had good reputations and were full of the Spirit and wisdom. They acted as the first deacons in the early church. (Acts:6:1-6) When the church in Jerusalem was persecuted, many believers scattered into other cities. Philip then went to Samaria and powerfully shared the Gospel, baptized new believers in water, and worked many miracles under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
    
    As Philip ministered in Samaria, he was sent by an angel to a desert and instructed by the Holy Spirit to meet with a eunuch. Imagine the thoughts Philip had when the Spirit told him to go walk alongside the Ethiopian Eunuch's carriage! Philip did as he was told and the eunuch invited Philip to ride with him in the carriage and explain what the Scripture meant that he was reading. Philip must have done a good job because the man saw some water and asked to be baptized!
    
    Philip was then snatched away by the Spirit of the Lord and taken to Azotus where he preached the Good News there and in other towns on his way to Caesarea. (Acts:8:26-40) Philip was truly guided by God’s Spirit to spread the Gospel with others. He started out serving the widows as a deacon and the Holy Spirit then guided him other places to serve God. He was willing to go where he was led even when it meant going into the desert to speak with a man he didn’t know. When we follow God’s Spirit, He may lead us places we wouldn't have gone ourselves.
    
    He may give us opportunities to speak with people we never would have considered talking to. We must learn to trust the Holy Spirit as Philip did and go and do what He says. Galatians:5:25 says, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." This means at school, church, and home, on the playground – wherever we go! We may not understand why at the time- we just need to go and obey. We can't depend on our own understanding. We won't always know whose heart God has prepared to receive the Good News! Our part is to trust and obey. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs:3:5-6)
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Galatians 5:25

  • What job is most important?

    Before Philip became an evangelist and worked miracles, he was a faithful deacon serving the widows in the church. Perhaps that doesn’t sound very important or exciting. But, listen to what happened when he and the other deacons did their jobs. “These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.” (Acts:8:6-7)
    
    We see that the deacon’s role was important because it freed up the apostles to pray, study, and preach God’s Word instead of doing tasks like feeding the widows in the church. The church continued to grow and even some Jewish priests became believers; that's powerful! When Philip was sharing the Gospel in Samaria, he also baptized the new believers in water. Peter and John came to Samaria and then baptized these believers in the Spirit.
    
    Philip, Peter and John had different roles and all worked together to accomplish God’s work. (Acts:8:4-17). Every job, no matter how big or small it may appear, is important in God’s Kingdom. The apostle Paul talked about this topic in 1 Corinthians:5:9: “After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.
    
    What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.” In God’s kingdom we work hand in hand with each other and God! The Holy Spirit orchestrates and anoints God’s followers to work in harmony with each other to do God’s will.
    
    “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (1 Corinthians:12:4-6,11)
    
    
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    • 1 Corinthians 5:9

  • How can someone be saved?

    God sent His Son to the earth because He loves us and He wants us to spend eternity with Him. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Everyone who believes has eternal life; that’s it… period! Philip preached the Good News and performed miracles to confirm that Word. Many believed and were baptized. Philip did not preach a complicated message.
    
    He did not require that they sign a paper and promise to keep all of the Jewish laws and customs of that day. He simply preached the Good News. Those who believed were saved and baptized in water. Peter and John came later to baptize these believers in the Spirit. By God pouring out His Spirit on these non-Jews, or Gentiles, He removed any doubt of their salvation and acceptance by Him! (Acts:8:4-8, Acts:12-17)
    
    The fact is that God wants us all to be saved; He on purpose made it a simple process. (2 Peter:3:9). Romans:10:13 makes it very clear: “For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” The key word in the verse is “everyone”. Man creates rules and religion to make it seem difficult, but this is not God’s way. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and religious leaders for adding conditions and rules to for the people to follow that even they could not keep. (Luke:11:37-52) In Acts:16:29-32, the jailer fell down before Paul and Silas and asked what he must do to be saved. “The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
    
    Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” What exciting news the jailer learned; not only he, but his whole family simply needed to believe in Jesus to be saved! The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading Scripture from the book of Isaiah. Philip, led by the Holy Spirit, came alongside his carriage as he read. “The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”
    
    So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.” Philip simply shared the Good News and the man received Jesus! A short time later, the eunuch saw some water in the desert and asked Philip to baptize him. After he was baptized, the eunuch went on his way rejoicing! God’s plan of salvation is not burdensome or hard; it is easy and brings us freedom and joy! Romans:10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you
    

    • Romans 10:13

  • Will a person feel anything when they believe in Jesus?

    When someone believes in Jesus as Savior, they are set free from sin and receive eternal life. This is cause for celebration! As Philip preached in Samaria and performed healings and other miracles and signs, there was great joy in the city! (Acts:8:8) When the Ethiopian Eunuch received the Good news and was baptized, he went on his way rejoicing! (Acts:8:39) Our salvation is not based on feelings; it is based on believing or by faith in Jesus.
    
    However, we can't help but be filled with the joy of the Lord! This is exactly what Jesus wants to give us! In John:17:13, Jesus said: “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.” The new church in Jerusalem was filled with excitement and joy. Acts:2:43-47 says, “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
    
    They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." Yes, joy comes as a direct result of our salvation and relationship with God and other believers. Paul and Barnabas brought the Gospel to the Gentiles and they thanked the Lord for His message. The Good News Spread and many became believers.
    
    The Jewish religious leaders eventually ran Paul and Barnabas out of town but the joy of the Lord from receiving the Good News could not be stopped! “And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts:13:48-52). As believers in Christ, our lives should be filled with joy as we live for Jesus! 1 Peter:1:8 says, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • John 17:13