Message Ten

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

While conducting a revival in prison, one said to me, "I've taken so many wrong steps. They've broken the hearts of my loved ones, and they've brought me so much sorrow." But he didn't stop there. That prisoner continued, "But today I've taken a step to Jesus, and I'm going to keep in step with Him." It thrilled me to see the transformation that took place in his face and life. So think with me on some steps that will lead to salvation and satisfaction.

The first step is beholding Jesus. It's written in John 1:29, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." To behold the Lamb of God is to believe in Him. As you trust Him, He'll take away your sins. The expression "taketh away" literally means, "to bear away," or "to tear apart." As you trust in the Lord you become separated from your sins by your Substitute bearing your sins in His own body on the tree. There lived in a small village in Northern Ireland a man who was nicknamed by his neighbor "drunken Dan." One night he went to church and he looked to the Lord and was changed. No longer was he cruel but kind. His sobriety and spirituality surprised everyone. In describing the change, one jokingly said, "A fairy changed him when he was drunk." "Oh, no!" said Dan. "I'll tell you what changed me. It was one good look at the Lamb of God."

The second step is following Jesus. After John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God," the Bible says, "they followed Jesus." There are some who follow the Lord as Samson followed his parents, till he came to a honeycomb. There are some who follow the Lord as a dog follows his master, till he comes to a bone. There are others who follow the Lord as did Peter - afar off. But the way to follow Him is closely. Testified the Psalmist, "My soul follows close behind Thee." Another way to follow Him is completely. Said the Lord, "My servant Caleb has wholeheartedly followed Me." As you follow Him closely and completely sin will be shunned, protection will be provided, and His strength will become your strength. This was true of the martyr, John Huss. When he was brought to be burned, a crown with devils on it was placed on his head. As he saw the crown he said, "My Lord Jesus, for my sake, wore a crown of thorns; shouldn't I wear for His sake this light crown, be it ever so ignominious? Truly I'll do it, and that willingly." When it was set upon his head, one said, "Now, we commend your soul to the devil." "But I," said Huss, as he lifted his eyes to heaven, "do commend my spirit into Thy hands, O Lord. When the wood was piled up to his neck, and he was asked to turn from following the Lord; he said, "No! What I taught with my lips I now seal with my blood!"

The third step is abiding with Jesus. A happy Christian met a salesman one day and said, "It's a grand thing to be saved!" "Yes," answered the salesman, "but I know something better than that." "What's that?" he asked. "The companionship of the Man who saved me," he answered. Concerning it, the Bible says, "John said, 'Behold the Lamb of God.' And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and He saith to them, 'What seek ye?' They said unto Him, 'Master, where dwellest Thou?' He saith unto them, 'Come and see.' They came...and abode with Him that day." It's only as you abide with Jesus that you'll abound with joy.

The fourth step is bringing others to Jesus. After Andrew abode with the Lord that day he went out and found his own brother Simon and said, "We have found the Christ," and he brought him to Jesus. In China a missionary doctor cured a man of cataracts. Several weeks later 48 blind men, each holding onto a rope, held in the hands of the man who was cured, came to the doctor. What a picture of soul-winning! The first blind man came to the physician, trusted him and he saw. Then he went out and brought others. If you've come to Christ, bring others to Him! Won't you?

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.