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The Book of Hebrews: Message
Twenty
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
One of the
most outstanding men in all the world was Joseph. The
story of this young man who went from a pit to the
palace has never lost its charm. His ten
half-brothers conspired to kill him and they threw
him into a pit. But one suggested, "Let's sell
him!" and they agreed. He was sold for $20 and
taken to Egypt. But the Lord was with him. He became
successful, and Pharaoh put him in charge of Egypt. A
great famine swept over the land, and Jacob, his
father, sent his ten sons to buy grain so they
wouldn't starve. But he kept Benjamin, Joseph's full
brother, at home. Joseph wasn't recognized by his
half-brothers, but he knew them, and he questioned
them He charged, "You're spies!" And he
added, "Here's your test. You shall not go away
from here unless your youngest brother comes."
Benjamin was brought to him, and he had a silver cup
placed in his bag so he could keep him from returning
home. Declared Joseph, "The person with whom the
cup was found shall be my slave, but you, you go up
peacefully to your father." It was then that
Judah cried, "How shall I go up to my father,
and the lad be not with me?" Did you get that
plea, Christian mother and father? What about your
children? Are you going to meet your heavenly Father
without your children because you haven't witnessed
to them and won them to the Lord? Oh how much better
it will be to say in the words of Hebrews 2:13,
"Behold I and the children which God hath given
me!"
Before there's
that triumph, there must be the trust. The first half
of the verse reads, "I will put my trust in
Him." It's not enough just to toil for the Lord,
or to tithe to Him, or to talk about Him. You must
trust in Him. You'll never touch any for the Lord
until first you've been touched by the Lord and
you're in constant touch with the Lord. You may be a
Christian worker, but unless you're a Christian,
you'll not be a Christian witness. To be a witness,
you must have some One to witness about. That One is
Jesus, the Son of God, who suffered for sins, who
rose from the dead, and who is alive forever more.
And you must have something to witness about. And
that's a transformation. Now there's no
transformation without trust.
This trust
must not be only in your head, but especially in your
heart. It must not be only on your lips, but
especially in your life. If you teach one thing by
your lips and another thing by your life, your family
will say, "Physician, heal thyself." If you
say, "Repent!" They'll ask, "Where's
the fruit of your repentance?" If they see you
cheat across the counter, they'll say you're a cheat
about Christianity. If you lie about social things,
they'll say you're lying about spiritual things. If
you're worthless as a worker, they'll say you're
worthless as a worshiper. If you're dishonest in
business, they'll say you're dishonest in your
belief. Your actions speak louder than your words.
"What you are speaks so loud that the world
can't hear what you say." Before your children
learn to read the ABC's they read character. If they
see Christ in your character and hear Christ in your
conversation they'll want your Christ. No one finds
fault with Christ. Why is it that the world doesn't
receive Him? The Christians aren't like Him. How
about you?
Not only must
your trust be seen in your practice, but it must be
heard in your prayers. Many are the children who are
Christless. Do you know why? Their parents are
prayerless. Can it be that you're a prayerless
parent? How I thank God for the prayers of my mother.
There were times when I slipped into the basement as
she was about to wash clothes. With the tears
streaming down her face, kneeling beside the clothes,
I used to hear her pray, "Oh, Father, as the
soap and water cleanses the clothes of my children,
so cleanse their hearts and lives with Thy
blood." How often I heard her pray as she darned
our socks, "Father, bless the feet that shall
wear these socks. Lead them to Calvary, and then lead
them to walk in the paths of righteousness." I
had a dance orchestra. I often came home during the
early hours of the morning. But I never found her in
bed. I'd find her on her knees praying, and I'd hear
her say, "Lord, You may blot my name out of the
Book of Life, only save my son." Not only did
she pray earnestly and effectively for me, but also
for my father, my three sisters, and my brother. No
wonder the Lord saved us! My mother went through
serious surgery, and on seeing each one in her family
saved, and my brother preparing for the ministry, I
heard her pray early one morning, "Father, You
may take me Home to Heaven." And then I heard
her say softly, "Behold I and the children which
God hath given me."
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version.
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the book of Hebrews.
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.
