The Sower's Bible Studies on 1st Peter

Message Sixteen

2010-09-21T08:02:00.001-07:00

A famous and fine drug firm stated the other day that 90% of all prescription medicines used today were unknown 17 years ago. Isn't that amazing. But God's presecription for sin hasn't changed since He, in the Garden of Eden, provided a covering to save us from our sins. Christ is still the only answer to your need. This is brought out in 1st Peter 1:22.

Mark the cleansing. It's written, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth." The Bible teaches that Gentiles and Jews are all under sin, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin, which originated with Satan, and entered the world through Adam, was, and is, universal. That's why every man must say, "I have sinned." Augustine, that great preacher of yesteryears cried, "Lord, save me from that wicked man, myself." John Knox confessed, "In youth, in mid-age, and after many battles, I find nothing in me but corruption." John Wesley acknowledged, "I am fallen short of the glory of God; my whole heart is altogether corrupt and abominable, and consequently my whole life, seeing an evil tree can't bring forth good fruit." Testified the writer of Rock of Ages, "I'm nothing but sin and weakness. In my flesh dwells no good thing." Since you and I have sinned, how can we be cleansed? By "obeying the truth," that is, trusting Christ. You see, sin is a stain, but when you trust Christ He'll give you a blood bath that washes away that stain. Sin is a blot, but when you trust He erases the record. Sin is a cloud, but when you trust Christ He blots out the cloud. Sin is captivity, but when you trust Christ He frees you from the fetters of sin. Sin is death, but when you trust Christ He gives you everlasting life. Once there was a bushman who wanted a new boomerang, but he didn't know how to throw the old one away. However, when we confess and forsake our sins, we never need to worry about their return. God forgives and forgets them.

Mark the channel. The Bible says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit." The Holy Spirit strives with men. The Lord said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man." The Holy Spirit convicts men. The Bible says, "When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment;" and our Lord added, "of sin, because they believe not on Me." The greatest of all sins is unbelief. It can be removed only by the convicting power of the Spirit. All sins may be forgiven save a continual, changeless lack of faith in the Lord Jesus. Should you reject the Son, you resist the Spirit, and you repudiate the Father's provision of eternal life. In one of our return meetings in a certain church, a man said to me, "When I heard you preach during the first meeting the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin night after night. But each time I refused to believe on the Lord Jesus, and I continued in my sins. The time has now come when I no longer feel the Spirit striving with me. I'd give anything if I could feel tonight as I felt a few years ago when you preached your first revival here." His little girl, holding onto his leg, as we stood on the sidewalk, cried, "Oh, Daddy, believe, believe." He said, "My heart is so hard, I can't, I can't."

Mark the command. It's written in 1st Peter 1:22, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." The word "unfeigned" is the translation from the word from which we get our word "hypocrite." The Greek word for "hypocrite" was used to describe an actor on a stage, one who played another's part, and that while wearing a mask. Now the Lord doesn't want you to put on a mask of feigned love. He wants you to love each other sincerely and warmly from your heart. He wants you to love others fervently, without anger or arrogance, without malice or meanness, without envy or evil speaking, without pride or partiality. "Oh," but you ask, "how can I?" "God is love." It's only as you ask this God of love to come into your heart, and abandon yourself to Him, that you'll love others as you should. A little girl was finally allowed to visit her friend who was sick. Said the sick girl, "I thought you had forgotten me." "Oh, no," she answered. "I sent my love to you every day, but they just kept it to themselves." Through the ages Christ has sent His love through the Christians. Don't just take it and keep it! Pass it on! The Bible says, "See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently."

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.

Message Fifteen

2010-09-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

On the tombstone of a celebrated and Christlike missionary, Dr. Robert Morrison, are these words: "I have sinned; I have repented; I have trusted; I have loved; I shall rise; and, through the grace of God, I shall reign." I wonder if he didn't base his testimony on 1st Peter 1:20 and 21.

Let's meet the Redeemer. God created man in His own image and His own likeness in order that He might have fellowship with him. He placed him in a gorgeous garden amid the most luxurious surroundings. At the beginning the communion between God and man was complete and cheerful. But God demanded perfect obedience, and this communion was conditioned by obedience. But man, a creature of choice, was tempted, and he sinned. Instead of choosing God's will, he chose his own way. He disobeyed the clear word of the Lord, and he plunged the human race, although yet unborn, into sin, suffering and separation from God. But this sin didn't take God by surprise. He knew man would sin, therefore He provided a Savior. It's written in 1 Peter 1:20, "Christ was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world." You see, God thought of redemption even before He thought of creation. Isn't this wonderful! Some people think of God as having created the world, and then, when man sinned, had to find a way to save him. But here we see that He was Redeemer before He was Creator. He had the salvation of your soul in mind long before the world began. Oh, His love is timeless as well as limitless; and it's not seen in creation as it is in Calvary. The other day my little niece said to me, "Uncle, I love you." "How much?" I asked. "A hug and a lot of kisses," she answered, as she threw her arms around my neck. But should you ask God, "How much do you love me?" He'd point not to creation, but to the cross, where Christ suffered for our sins, that He might save our souls.
Mark the resurrection. It's written in 1st Peter 1:21, "God raised Him up from the dead." That resurrection is well attested. How? By the word and the witnesses. After Christ died and was buried there was a tremendous earthquake. The earth reeled and staggered and tottered; and the angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone from the entrance of the tomb, breaking the seals that were put there by the soldiers. And the soldiers, guarding the grave, were literally paralyzed by fear and became as dead men. As the women drew near to the tomb, the angel of the Lord said at once to them, "Fear not...I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here...He is risen." "Oh," but you ask, "why was the stone rolled away?" Not to let the Lord out. He was already out. It was to let others look in. Let me illustrate. One evening my niece came to spend the night with us. We have a covered terrace, and our bedroom opens out into this terrace. There are drapes that cover the sliding glass doors, and we draw them as we prepare to retire. There's a yard light that comes on at dusk, and as it shines through the drapes, one can see shadows. On this particular night, as I was about to turn out the light in the bedroom, my little niece became just a little frightened. She wondered what was on the other side of the drapes. I could have told her that it was foolish for her to be afraid of any shadow, and that there was nothing to fear on the other side, but that wouldn't have helped much. So for her peace of mind I pulled the drapes aside, and the light came in. "See," I said, "there's nothing to fear." When I pulled the drapes, I didn't remove any evil, only the dread. So when the angel rolled the stone away, it wasn't to let the Lord out, but to let us look in and see that there's nothing to fear. For Christ defeated death, and because He was raised from the dead, all who believe in Him shall be raised from the dead.

Let's meet the recipients. According to 1st Peter 1:21, they are those "Who by Him do believe in God," and their "faith and hope" rests in God. When you have faith in God, through Christ, and by faith, I don't mean a head faith, but a heart faith, you'll have no fear about the future. For at death angels will carry your spirit and soul home to heaven. A little girl said to her friend, "I'd be afraid to die, wouldn't you?" But one day she put her faith in the Lord and was delivered from her fears. A little while later, after living for her Lord, she got awfully sick, and her friend came to see her. "Are you afraid now?" she asked. "Oh, no," she said in cheerful confidence, "I'm not afraid. Jesus will come for me." Hath He not said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And since I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."
"In the house of many neither toil nor care shall come;
But His own, all His own, forever shall rest in that home.
"In that house of many mansions death shall never more molest,
But His own, all His own, shall be by their Lord fully blest."
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.

Message Fourteen

2010-08-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

Do you know how much a billion dollars actually is? Someone has said that if each soldier carried a 50 pound pack of dollar bills, it would take 42,500 men to carry a billion dollars. Or, if each truck carried 5 tons of dollar bills, it would take 212 trucks to hold a billion dollars. Or, if you laid dollar bills end to end, they'd circle the earth 4 times. Or, if you covered a sidewalk 8½ feet wide with dollar bills, it would make a sidewalk 2,442 miles long, or from Washington, DC to San Francisco, California. Now if you have that much money you could not with it redeem your soul. For it's written in 1st Peter 1:18 and 19, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ."

Mark the connotation. The word "redemption" means to buy back. A young fellow hurried to the dog pound and said to the dog catcher, "You got my dog." "I'm sorry, son," he answered, "but he didn't have a license, did he?" "No," replied Jim, "but I want him back." "You can have him back," said the man, "for the price of a license, which is $1.50." Jim rubbed his two quarters and said, "I don't have the money." "That's too bad," answered the man, "but rules are rules." Jim hung his head for a moment, and then asked excitedly, "Say, mister, do you have any work I can do to earn a dollar?" "No," he replied, "but try the store on the corner." Jim tried the store, he got the job and he returned late that afternoon with the money. He gave it to the man, who handed him his dog with a license. As he walked away, he said, "Spot, you're twice mine. Dad gave you to me when you were a pup. Now I've bought you. You're twice mine." Man belongs to the Lord by creation. But at the fall he entered into a position of bondage. Now our Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross and willingly died for our sins. That's the price He paid to buy us back from Satan and sin. You and I who have received Him are twice His. His because He created us, and His because He died for us.

Mark the cost of our redemption. It's written in 1st Peter 1:18 and 19, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Here the apostle carries our minds back to a thrilling event that took place in the land of Egypt. The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord said, "I have come down to deliver thee," and He told Moses, "I will put a difference (or, literally, a redemption) between My people and the Egyptians." That redemption was made by the blood of the lamb that was without spot or blemish. It was to be a type of Christ, God's holy, spotless Son. This lamb had to die, and the blood that was shed had to be sprinkled upon the door. And God commanded them to go into the house and shut the door, for He said He'd pass through the land of Egypt that night, and smite all the firstborn, but wherever the blood was sprinkled, the family would be secure, for He said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." The blood of that lamb shed centuries ago was God's picture of the blood of Christ which was shed on Calvary's cross. But get this...the blood in the living lamb did no good. The lamb had to die, and the blood had to be shed. Just so, the blood of Christ that flowed through His veins didn't redeem us. His blood had to be shed. He had to die. That night in Egypt the blood wasn't left in the bowl. It had to be applied to the doorposts. So must the blood of Christ be, by your faith, applied to your soul. "How is it applied?" you ask. By receiving Christ, the Son of God, as your Savior. His heart is big enough to take in the members of all races, and His arms are long enough and strong enough to reach down to the depths of humanity and lift it to God. Right now His arms are outstretched wide to receive you and make you His child, and to save you from Satan and sin.
Mark the consequence of our redemption. Once we belonged to Satan, now we belong to God. A slave girl, purchased by an English visitor from her cruel owner, followed the man, crying with all her heart, "He redeemed me. He brought me with a price. I am his." Thus should you and I say, for the Bible says, "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Oh, how we've failed. How little we, His bought ones, have yielded ourselves to Him. How often we have lived as though we were our own. Let's say with the poet -
"I was bought with a price 'tis a wonderful theme,
For the Maker of all came down to redeem;
And He purchased my body, my spirit, my all,
From the firm grasp of Satan, from under his thrall.
"I was bought with a price from the hard iron yoke,
From the tears and the groans that my anguish bespoke,
From the arms of that monster who gloated to see,
How despairingly wretched his victim would be.
"I was bought with a price from the torments of hell,
From the dread lake of fire that no waters could quell;
As a brand from the burning He drew me and smiled,
As He placed in His bosom His poor weary child.
"I was bought with a price, O my soul, take it in,
I'm redeemed from the power and guilt of my sin;
Yes, Lord, I am Thine, I am all, all Thine own,
With Thee in Thy yoke would I labor alone."
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Thirteen

2010-06-01T08:30:00.001-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

A Christian has been described as "one who makes it easier to believe in God." Do you, by your conduct and conversation, make it easier for others to believe in God? How do you conduct yourself? The Bible tells us how we should. It's found in 1st Peter 1:17, "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear."

Let's meet the Father. There's no more comforting, gracious, or satisfying word in our language than "Father." It speaks on the one hand of control and power, and on the other hand of compassion and pity, and of love. It's a heartwarming and soul-enriching word. Martin Luther was coaching a man in the catechism, and asked him to repeat the creed. The man began, "I believe in God the Father Almighty," when Luther stopped him. He asked, "What is Almighty?" "I don't know," answered the man. "You're right," said Luther, "neither I nor all the learned men can tell what God's power and might are. But continue to believe in the simplicity that God is your beloved and all-faithful Father, who, as the Only Wise, can and will help you in every hour of need." All can say, "Father." But not all can say, "My Father." The only way that you can say, "My Father," is by receiving Jesus as your Savior. For the Bible says, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." Many have rejected Him, but I trust you'll receive Him now.

Let's note the fairness. Our text reads, "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work." Oh, I'm so glad that my Father doesn't foster favoritism. He doesn't pick some for heaven and pitch others to hell. He doesn't love only the good, but also the bad. He loves all men - good and bad, saint and sinner. The Bible says, "For God so love the world" - not part of it, but all of it and all of the people in it. God loves you now, no matter who you are, nor what you've done. He loves you, and He wants to become your Father. And this Father is impartial. The expression, "without respect of persons," literally means, "does not receive face." That is, He doesn't receive anybody's face. He's impartial. Culture, education, intellect, position, or wealth doesn't count with Him. The Bible says, "The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." When the Lord judges a man, he doesn't put a tape measure around the head, nor around the billfold, but around the heart. And big men and little, rich men and poor, educated men and illiterate, are all on one dead level in the eye of this Father who judges. "Oh," but you ask, "what's the meaning of the word 'judgeth' in this verse?" It carries the thought of "putting to a test." Now it's used in two ways. One, to see what good or evil there may be in a person. Two, to approve the good that's found in a person. Now as God looks upon your conversation and conduct, is your life so holy that He put His approval on you? He searches anxiously to find something in your life upon which He can put His approval. You see, Christ died not only to save you, but to separate you from sin to the Savior; not only to help you, but to make you holy. There was a man who said to a minister, "I don't believe in all this teaching about holiness and Christ conformity. I'm quite content to know that I'm saved and on my way to heaven." "My friend," answered Dr. Stuart Holden, "this is hardly a proper criterion of judgment. You are satisfied to know that you're saved and going to heaven. But is God satisfied? Is that what Christ died for?"
"I am satisfied with Jesus, He has done so much for me;
He has suffered to redeem me, He has died to set me free.
"I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus.
But the question comes to me, as I think of calvary, is my Master satisfied with me?"
Let's note the fear. It's written in 1st Peter 1:17, "Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." The word "pass" means "to conduct yourself," or "to order your conversation and conduct." The word "sojourning" means "to have a home alongside of." It signifies a person living in a foreign land alongside of people who aren't his kind. Here it refers to the Christians who are living far from the heavenly home, in a world that lies in the lap of the devil. So then the Christian is constantly being watched by the unsaved. Because he is, he passes his time here in fear. In fear of what? Of dishonoring or denying the Savior, or of causing an unsaved person to stumble and sin. Captain Bickel was tired one night, but he was concerned about an unsaved soldier. So he asked a Christian to take him a Bible. But he answered, "Captain, sir, you're his Bible. He's watching you. As you live Christ, so Christ is revealed to him. As you fail to live Christ, Christ is crucified again." Oh, be afraid to do anything that will bring reproach to Christ or that will cause one to reject Christ.

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Twelve

2010-05-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

1st Peter 1:14

A teenager was taken from an orphanage into the heart and home of a Christian couple. Day after day he was amazed at their graciousness and godliness. They fell in love with him, and they took him to court where he legally and officially received the name of his foster father, Thompson. From that day on he was known as Andrew Thompson. One day as he was going to town, he met some of his old friends. Pulling a couple of bottles from their pockets, some dice and a deck of cards, they said, "Come with us like you used to. We're going to the old clubhouse to do a little drinking and gambling." "Nothing doing," said Andrew. "I have a new name, and I'm not going to bring any dirt on this name." I think the apostle had that in mind when he wrote in 1st Peter 1:14, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance." A Christian is to fashion himself after his heavenly Father.

Mark the command. It's written in 1st Peter 1:15, "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy." In the Bible the Lord is often called The Holy One because the sum of all moral excellency is found in Him. He is absolute Purity, and in Him is no shadow of sin. Because the Lord is holy, we should desire and determine to be conformed to Him. A young Jewess, who is now a Christian, asked the lady who led her to the Lord, "Do you know why I've been reading the gospels? It's because I'm puzzled. I want to know when the Christians began to be so different from Christ." I'll tell you when. It was when they slipped back to their old ways and ceased being holy. Now if you're a Christian, you're commanded to be holy. This isn't optional. It's something that's absolutely imperative. God commands it. In fact, He demands it.

Mark the characteristics of a holy life. What is the life like? What are the marks of a holy life? The answer is found in 1st Peter 1:15, "So be ye holy in all manner of conversation." The word "conversation" literally means "behavior." Today the word "conversation" means talk. But in the days of the Bible it meant "the manner of life," or "the behavior." So you're to be holy in your ways as well as your words, where you work as well as where you worship. A maid went to a gospel meeting where she professed to be set apart from sin to righteousness. When she got home, she said, "Oh, I got such a blessing tonight at the meeting." "Well," answered the lady of the house, "we'll see in the morning." Her work would be a sign of the reality of her worship. Her life would show if her lips were sincere. We need an experience that will do more than arouse the emotions. We want one that will produce holy behavior. "Oh," but you say, "what does the word 'holy' mean?" Literally it means "to set apart." It has in it the idea of separation. But there are two sides to separation: from that which is evil, unto that which is of God. To be holy is to live a life that's consecrated to Christ, a life that's separated from sin, a life that's Christlike in conversation and conduct. In China a woman went to a missionary and said, "Please, doctor, give me some of your medicine for cleansing mouths." "What do you mean?" asked the missionary. "Before my neighbor went to your mission," she said, "she'd swear if she were crossed in any way. Now there's never a bad word on her lips. I want my mouth to be clean like hers." That's the effect of a life that's holy in conversation and conduct.

Mark the conditions. Are you asking, "What must I do to be holy? How can I live a holy life?" First of all, you must be born again. Before you can be holy in practice, you must be holy in principle. Before you can have the Lord's style, you must have His Spirit. Benjamin West was a great painter. In speaking to his students about the masterful coloring of another artist, Gilbert Stuart, he'd say, "It's no use to steal his colors, but if you want to paint as he does, you must steal his eyes." Just so, if you'd be holy as God is holy, you must have His heart, His nature, His life. When you receive the Lord as your Savior, you're born again; and the very life of God, the very holiness of God, comes into your life. As you are wholly His, you'll be holy. For He who wants you to be holy, will make you holy. On being asked the secret of his success, William Booth answered, "God has all there is of me." Let Him have all there is of you, and say,
"Spirit of holiness, do Thou dwell in this soul of mine;
Possess my heart, and make me know a sanctity divine."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Eleven

2010-04-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

"We've learned to fly through the air faster and higher than the birds; swim under the sea deeper and farther than the fish; we can travel in space with greater freedom than the moon;" but now we need to learn to walk on earth like a man. This is found in 1st Peter 1:13.

Mark the stripping. The Bible says, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind." In the days of the Bible the Orientals wore a robe that was long and loose. When they'd flap, they'd catch the wind and wrap themselves around the legs, and they'd hinder action and speed. So they wore a girdle or belt around the waist, and when they had to run or fight they'd tuck the entangling garment under the belt. Just as a loose garment may trip a man and cause him to stumble, so does loose thinking. So the Bible urges, "Gird up the loins of your mind," that is, "put out of your mind all that would hinder you as a Christian." What are some of the things that would hinder you? Hypocrisy, impurity, worry. In the first church there was a man by the name of Joseph who sold a tract of land and brought the money and gave it to the pastor for the needy. This brought him happiness and honor. Now there was another man in that church who wanted praise of man, so, he, too, sold his property to give to the needy through the church. But he thought, "Why give all? I'll keep back some of the price for myself." That was a thought that came from the tempter, even the devil. Instead of stripping himself of that thought, he, with his wife's consent, pretended that part was all, and gave the money to the pastor. But Peter said, "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" It was this thought of hypocrisy that tripped them, and they both breathed their last. One afternoon David arose from his couch and was walking on his roof garden. He saw a woman bathing, and she was beautiful. Immediately there came into his mind the thought of impurity. Instead of stripping himself of it, he thought on it, and took her and they sinned. Then the baby that was conceived in sin, died, despite David's praying. One evening the Lord came to His disciples, walking on the sea. When they saw this, they were frightened, saying, "It's a ghost." And they cried out for fear. But Jesus spoke to them, saying, "It is I, don't be afraid." Peter answered Him, "Lord, if it's really You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But he got his eyes off the Lord, and seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me." And the Lord saved him. Because of his doubt, he started to drown. But he stripped himself of his fear, and cried out in faith, and was delivered. That's girding up the loins of your mind.

Note the sobering. The Bible commands, "Be sober." This has two meanings. One, it means to refrain from drunkenness. Alexander the Great, at 33 years of age, sat on a log and wept. On being asked why, he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer." But he failed in the conquest of self. One night, after an orgy of drinking, he called for the "Hercules Cup" which held a great amount of liquor, and he drained it again and again, only to fall to the floor and die. This hero of a thousand conquests failed in the most important of them all, the conquest of self. But the word "sober" has another meaning. It also means to be steady and steadfast in your minds. You must neither become intoxicated with booze or with business, with wine or with worldliness. You're to be on your guard. You see, the devil is out to destroy you. He knows when to strike. He waited until our Lord was weak from hunger, after fasting 40 days and 40 nights. Then he said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But our Lord was sober…He was steadfast in His mind. He was on His guard, and He said, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

Note the settling. It's written in 1st Peter 1:13, "hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." The Christian is settled. He lives in hope, and because he lives in hope, he can endure any toil or trial because it leads to triumph. For the Christian, the best is yet to come. A bright young girl of 15 was suddenly paralyzed on one side and was nearly blind. She heard the doctor say to her parents, "Poor child! She has seen her best days." "No, doctor," she exclaimed, "my best days are yet to come."
"No chilling winds, nor poisonous breath, can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Ten

2010-02-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:10

Years ago there was a dissipated fellow by the name of Oliver Martin who lived a wretched life. One day in his wanderings he came onto a gold nugget too big for him to carry. Hurrying to a friend, he persuaded him to help carry it. When the testing proved that it was genuine, the drunkard fell on his face, and in sorrow for sin he confessed his sins, saying, "Such a finding as this is truly of the grace of God." From that hour he lived the Christian life. But greater wealth did Peter find in salvation. Let's turn to 1st Peter 1:10 and

Mark the salvation. It denoted deliverance, deliverance from the penalty, the power and the presence of sin. It's by grace and not our goodness. And grace is God assuming all our sin, and suffering for our sin. Salvation is by faith, and this faith is of God. He was a judge, and his son was brought before him on a minor charge. When the boy was unable to pay the fine, the kind judge reached into his pocket and paid it. Thus the faith that God requires of you and me, He imparts. How? "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." When you exercise this faith, you're saved. "How," you ask, "do I exercise it?" Simply by saying, "Lord Jesus, I take Thee as my Savior now - by grace, by faith, I trust Thee to save my soul."

Mark the Spirit. It's written in 1st Peter 1:10-11, "Of which salvation that prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." The Bible is God-given. God wanted us to know Who He is and what He did in sending His Son to be the Savior of the world. He wanted to make the way of salvation so clear that no one would misunderstand it and miss the way to heaven. Anyone can understand that he's a sinner, that Christ is the Savior and that He is the way to heaven through faith in Him. So man is without excuse if he rejects the Savior. He wanted His born-again children to know how to live the Christian life. That's why He gave us the Bible. Now the Bible is inspired. The word "inspire" means "to breathe upon." The Bible is God-breathed. Holy men of God wrote the Bible as God breathed upon them. So the whole Bible originated from God, who caused consecrated men to write down exactly what He wanted written.
Mark the sufferings. One thing the holy men of God wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was "the sufferings of Christ." It's not what Christ said, but what He suffered that's the heart and hub of salvation. Why? Answers McClaren beautifully: "Because the deepest need of all of us is the need to have our sins dealt with, both as guilt and power, and because nothing else in the whole story of Christ's manifestation, deals with men's sins as the fact of His death on the cross does, therefore the sacrifice and the sufferings are the heart of the Gospel. But it's no Gospel to tell a man that Jesus Christ died, unless you go on to say He 'died for our sins according to the Scripture.' And it's no Gospel to talk about the beauty of His life, and the sweetness of His nature, the sinlessness of His life, and the depth, the wisdom, and the tenderness of His word, unless you can say this is 'the Lamb of God,' 'the Word made flesh,' 'who bore our sins.' Strike out from the gospel that you preach the 'sufferings of Christ,' and you have struck out the one thing that will draw men's hearts, that will satisfy men's needs, that will bind men to Him with the cords of love." Our Lord Himself said, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." Describing his work among the North American Indians, David Brainerd wrote in his journal, "I never got away from Jesus, and Him crucified; and I found that when my people were gripped by this, I had no need to give them instructions about morality. I found that one followed as the sure and inevitable fruit of the other."

Meet the spectators. It's written in 1st Peter 1:12, "Which things the angels desire to look into." That means, "to look carefully into." While the angels can examine salvation, they can't experience it. But how they watch and wait to see if you'll accept salvation and enter into heaven. A sign in Korea bore these words: "The precious blood of the gallant officers and men of the 7th Calvary Regiment has made it possible for you to be here." There'll be no sign like that in heaven. But if there were one, it would read, "The precious blood of Christ shed on Calvary's cross has made it possible for you to be here."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Nine

2010-01-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

The Book of First Peter: Message Nine
By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

Walking down the street one day a lady saw a little girl leaving the church. Going to her, she asked, "What were you doing in there?" "Praying," she answered. Thinking she had a burden, she asked, "What were you praying for?" "Nothing," said the girl. "I was just loving Jesus." Do you love Jesus? Let's turn to 1st Peter 1:8 and

Note the attachment. It's written, "Whom having not seen, ye love." You can't love one unless you have a clear-cut conception of that person. You must know a person to love him. "Oh," you ask, "how can I come to know the Lord?" Through His word. The Bible says, "Belief cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." You don't love Him? Then where have you failed? You've heard His word. You're hearing it now. What will you do with it? Will you believe it? You must have the nature of an artist to love art. And you must have the nature of God to love the Lord. When you believe, you're born again, and you're given the very nature of God. Then you'll love Him. A little girl asked her father, "Dad, do you love Jesus?" "Jesus is dead, my dear, He was crucified, and that was the end of Him," he answered. "But Jesus rose again," she answered. "But how can I love one whom I've never seen?" he asked. She was puzzled, but then she said, "Dad, how old was I when Mother died?" "Six months, my child." "Then I can't say that I ever saw her, for I don't remember her. But you've always tried to make me love her by telling me how good and kind she was, and I do love her, although I've never seen her that I can remember." Tears came into the eyes of the father, and kissing his little girl, he said, "God has spoken to me by you, my dear. Now you must pray for me. Ask God to give me a new heart, with which I shall love Jesus." She did, and the prayer was answered.

Note the affinity. Should you say, "From this very moment on, I'm going to love Jesus," without believing on Him as your Savior from sin, your efforts will end in disappointment and despair. It was when I learned that "the Son of God loved me, and gave Himself for me," that I believed on Him. Then His love won my heart, and I cried, "I love Him, because He first loved me." But first there was the believing. That's why it's written in the next phrase, "yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Believing? What does that mean? Trusting. When my car won't run, I take it to a mechanic. When I'm sick, I go to a doctor. In going to these folk for help, I trust myself to them. Just so, when I saw that I needed to be saved I went to the Savior. I turned my heart and soul over to Him. I trusted Him to save me, and He did. That's believing or trusting. It's committing your life to the Lord. The other day, to keep a preaching engagement, I had to fly. When I stepped into the plane for the flight, I committed myself to the pilot. I had faith that he'd carry me through the storms and the darkness to my destination. Now that's what I did when I trusted the Lord. I said, "Lord, I have sinned, but You died for my sins. Save me. I now trust You to take me through the storms of life and bring me safely home to heaven." Won't you trust the Lord now? Then not only will you be saved, but you'll have "joy unspeakable." Joy isn't found in pleasure, only in a Person, Jesus. In having Jesus, you'll have joy. A man was traveling by train through the South, and during a stop he asked a Southerner, "Do folks down here enjoy religion?" "The folks that have it do," he said.

In closing, note the anticipation. It's written in 1st Peter 1:9, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." There's salvation from the power of sin, and there's salvation from the presence of sin. That's when a believer goes home to heaven. Now there are two avenues. One, is death. If you're trusting in the Lord, and should you die now, immediately your soul, the real you, will be carried by the angels to heaven. As the Bible says, you'll be "absent from the body…at home with the Lord." The other avenue is the coming of Christ. Should the Lord come today and He may, if you're a believer, you'll not die. You'll be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so will you ever be with the Lord. Robert Bruce believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved. One morning, during his illness, he said to his children, "I've had breakfast with you, but I shall have dinner with my Lord Jesus Christ." Within a few minutes he closed his eyes to open them in heaven. What glory. To a believer, there's

"Only glory, by and by, only glory, by and by,
Every heartache gone for ever, only glory, by and by."
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Eight

2010-01-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

1st Peter 1:7

"When faith in God goes, man the thinker loses his greatest thought. When faith in God goes, man the worker loses his greatest motive. When faith in God goes, man the sinner loses his greatest help. When faith in God goes, man the sufferer loses his greatest refuge. When faith in God goes, man the lover loses his greatest vision. When faith in God goes, man the mortal loses his only hope." So let's think on The Trial of Your Faith as we turn to 1st Peter 1:7.

Note the faith. Mr. Wesley and his associates were discussing the subject of faith. No one was able to give a satisfactory definition. At last he called in an old lady who loved the Lord. When she was asked to give us a definition for faith, she answered, "It's taking God at His word." "That will do," said Mr. Wesley. "That's good enough for us all."

Note the fire. If faith goes, everything goes. If faith remains, everything else remains. So faith must be tested. It's written in 1st Peter 1:7, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Here's a man who has some gold ore. He wants to know if it's genuine gold or fools gold. So he puts it into the fire, and the fire reveals it. Now the Lord wants to know if you're trusting in your feelings or faith. I have a need. It's a great financial need. I've prayed fervently and faithfully for this need. To date it hasn't been supplied, though it's been on my heart a long time. Now if I depended upon my feelings I'd have to say I don't expect an answer. But I'm depending upon God's faithfulness, and I know the answer will come. Paul and Silas, you know, were dragged before the authorities for preaching Christ, and were stripped, beaten, and cast into prison. That was a trial of their faith. But their faith was revealed. "At midnight Paul and Silas sang." In their suffering they had a song. A very dear friend ventured all on a mining enterprise. He put all he had into it so he could get a lot out of it to give to God. But the other night he phoned, saying, "Mike, I've lost everything but God." The trial came. His faith was revealed. He lost his gold, but men saw his God. "Steel is iron plus fire. Soil is rock plus crushing." Our Christian life, if we're to be what God wants us to be, is faith plus the fire.
"He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat, as He watched by the precious ore;
And closer he bent with a searching gaze as He heated it more and more.
"He knew he had ore that could stand the test, and he wanted the finest gold
To mold as a crown for the king to wear, set with gems with a price untold.
"So He laid our gold in the burning fire, tho we fain would have said Him nay,
And He watched the dross that we had not seen as it melted and passed away.
"And the gold grew brighter, and yet more bright, and our eyes were so dim with tears
We saw but the fire, not the Master's Hand, and questioned with anxious fear.
"So He waited there with a watchful eye, with a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat than was needed to make it pure."

Note the finish. The Bible says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." What a grand day that will be for His suffering saints. The Lord will make up all that you've lost for your faithfulness to Him. First, there'll be the "praise." If you've been faithful, publicly He'll say to you, "Well done! Good and faithful servant." Second, there'll be the "honor." This refers to the crowns He'll give you. Not only will He praise you in words, but also in action. Third, there's the "glory." The Bible says, "If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together." Queen Victoria visited a hospital to pin the Victoria Cross on a soldier who had been faithful, but was badly wounded. When Her Majesty commended Piper Findlater, that was the praise. When she was about to pin the cross on him, he said, "I can stand, your Majesty." But looking at the wounded man, she answered, "Oh, no, I will rise." When she attached the Victoria Cross to his jacket, that was the honor. Then his comrades cheered loudly. That was the glory. The Queen honored the man who had honored his country. Will you be honored by the Lord on that day? Then honor the Lord this day and every day. And
"Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break with blessings on your head."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Seven

2010-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

1st Peter 1:6
By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

Fashionable New Yorkers in the 17th century not only called a physician when sick in bed, but also two comforters. Their occupation was to comfort the patient during the 'long hours of the night.' Dressed in black, and bearing a funeral expression, these cheerless chaps sang sad songs, read sad poetry and discussed death. I'm not dressed in black, nor am I bearing a funeral expression, but I'd like to bring you a comforting verse from the Bible. It's found in 1st Peter 1:6, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations."

Note the paradox. The Bible says, "Wherein you rejoice," yet "you are in heaviness." What? Joy and heaviness at the same time? Yes. How? The word "wherein" explains the paradox. It refers to the salvation that's mentioned in the preceding verse that reads, "Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." When you came to Christ, your soul was saved. But you still experience sickness and sorrow. However when Christ comes for you, your body will be saved. Then there'll be no more sickness and sorrow. In heaven you'll not be a spirit floating about in space, you'll be a complete person - body, soul and spirit. Only your body will be delivered from disease and death, sin and sorrow, weakness and wildness. So as I look out over this wicked world, it doesn't depress me, because I expect from it nothing better. Whatever hurts or heartaches come, I say, "This, too, shall pass away." Whatever may be going against me, whatever sickness or sorrow shall come to me, this is what I must expect because of sin. But one of these days I shall see my Savior face to face, and then I shall be like Him. That's why I rejoice even when I'm in heaviness. Don't you?

"We expect a bright tomorrow; all will be well:
Faith can sing thru days of sorrow, all, all is well.
On our Father's love relying, Jesus every need supplying:
Or in living, or in dying, all must be well."

Note the period. The Bible says, "Though now for a season." The word "season" means "little," and it refers to a little while. In advertising trucks today they'll make mention of 1 ton or 2 tons. That's the load limit. One doesn't impose upon it a heavier weight. Just so, every person has a load limit, and the Lord, who permits the trial, will also regulate it. The Bible says, "No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has a way out, so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it." In the midst of his many distresses, Lincoln used to say often to himself, "This, too, shall pass away." For every trial and test is only temporary, and that for a little while.

Note the purpose. The Bible says, "If need be." There's a need-be for each pain, and God someday will make it plain that earthly loss is heavenly gain. It's written in 1st Thessalonians 3:3, "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." Affliction comes not by accident, but by appointment, by God's appointment. Well might we say, "No chance hath brought this ill to me. 'Tis God's Own hand, so let it be." So when afflictions come your way, don't say with despair, "What a disappointment." Remove the letter "d," and in its place put the letter "h," and you'll have not disappointment, but His appointment.

"I will say it over and over, this day and every day,
Whatsoever the Master orders, come what may, 'It is the Lord's appointment.'
For only His love can see what is wisest, best, and right, what is truly good for me."

Note the probation. The Bible says, "Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." The word "temptation" means trials and testings, and the word "manifold" means many-colored. Peter uses that word again to describe grace. He called it "the manifold grace of God." Your troubles may be many-colored, but so is the grace of God. There's no color in your situation which the grace of God can't match. There is triumph for every trial, a rainbow for every tear. There's no trial without His grace.

"God hath promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love."

You'll never be without sorrow in this world. But you'll never be without the Savior in your sorrow. He may allow you to get into the lions' den but He'll go there with you. But He'll not allow you to get into the lions' mouth. So trust Him and your trial will become your triumph.

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Six

2009-12-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:5

A composer called on Fanny Crosby and said, "Here's a new hymn tune I've written. What does it say?" As Mrs. Knapp played it, Fanny Crosby said, "Why, that music says, 'Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine.'" That's how that gospel song was written.

Let's look at the word "assurance." It means "the state of being sure." As applied to salvation, it means that the believer knows that because he welcomed the Savior into his heart, he possesses salvation. A soldier was badly wounded, and the doctor said to him, "I must operate right away. But you have only one chance in a hundred to come through. Have you anything to say?" "Go on with the operation," said the Christian. "All is well with my soul. Whichever side I come out there'll be a welcome for me. If I come through, Mother will welcome me. If I don't, Jesus will welcome me." Now that assurance is based on fact, not feeling. Jesus said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." "Oh," but you say, "I'm afraid my faith isn't real." It's not your faith that saves, but the Savior. He's real, so believe Him. "But," you say, "I'm trying to believe." Trying to believe whom? Dare you even think of trying to believe that One who can't lie? Suppose you were to tell me a fact, and I'd say, "I'm trying to believe you." Wouldn't that mean I didn't believe you? Don't, then, talk of trying to believe. Either you believe Him or you don't. If you don't believe Him, you make Him a liar. If you're making Him a liar, then ask Him to forgive you. Then take Him at His word. "Faith," said a little boy, "is believing God, and asking no questions." So confess with the poet,
"I do believe, I now believe that Jesus died for me;
That on the cross He shed His blood from sin to set me free."

Now let's look at the word security. This has to do with the continuance of salvation of the one who has received Christ. But get this: there's a difference between actual salvation and apparent salvation. Some profess salvation, but they don't posses it. Look at Judas. He professed, but he didn't possess salvation. Outwardly he seemed to be saved. At the last supper, when our Lord said, "One of you shall betray Me," no one suspected Judas. But the Lord knew that Judas was never saved from his sins. He said to Peter, "He that is washed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean, and ye are clean, but not all." And the Bible explains His statement, saying, "He knew who should betray Him; therefore He saith, Ye are not all clean." But before this, the Lord said, "Have I not chosen you 12, but one of you is a devil." So Judas the professor perished. He went from apparent salvation to actual suffering in a Christless eternity. Oh, my friend, make sure that you possess what you profess. And don't mistake tasting for trusting or conviction for conversion. One day a man of God preached in the power of God. The people were convicted. The Bible says, "they were cut to the heart." But they weren't converted. For they not only spurned the Savior but stoned Stephan.

Now this brings us to our text for this broadcast. It's found in 1st Peter 1:5, "Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." The word "kept" is a military word. It means "to guard, or protect." It declares that the child of God is garrisoned by God. Think of it...God stands guard over His children 24 hours a day, 12 months a year, year in and year out, until He takes His children home to heaven. No, this doesn't mean that a Christian may not fall into sin. Consider Peter. To him our Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren." Now Peter sinned, but he didn't lose his salvation. He did lose, however, the joy of God's salvation. For the Bible says, "Peter went out and wept bitterly." Jonah was another one who sinned, but who didn't lose his salvation. An old preacher in commenting on this said, "We read in the Scriptures of two men who 'went out from the presence of the Lord.' One was Cain, the other Jonah. Now when Cain went out, the Lord left him alone. But when Jonah went out, the Lord didn't leave him alone. Why? Cain wasn't a child of God. Jonah was." You see, God who begins a good work at the time of your salvation, will surely complete it. The Bible says, "I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns." Well might we sing
"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine Oh, what a fortaste of glory divine;
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Five

2009-11-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:4

The Roman Senate appointed Pliny the Younger to investigate a sect known as Christians, for these folk were accused of being disloyal to the Roman Government. After an exhaustive investigation he reported to the Senate, "All I can find out about this sect called Christians is that they pray to one called Jesus as God, they sing hymns, and they pay their taxes." What a testimony - to sing hymns when you pay your taxes. But Christianity is the only religion that sings, for it was born in a song. Is your religion a burden or a blessing, a sigh or a song? The very thought of God's measureless mercy should cause thanksgiving. So it's written in 1st Peter 1:3 and 4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance." The hope is for the present, and the inheritance for the future.

Let's look at the hope. The Bible calls it a "living hope." It's a "living hope" because it's based on the resurrection of our Lord from the dead. But not all hopes are living. Some are dead. And when hope is dead, man ceases to act. Dr. Louis Banks told of an Indian on Lake Erie who had fallen asleep in his canoe and drifted into the rapids above Niagara Falls. He didn't wake up until the current was sweeping his canoe to destruction. But when he saw that his doom was inevitable he didn't touch the paddle, but with despair he folded his arms across his chest, and was dashed to destruction. Hope had died out in his heart. Something like this happened to the followers of our Lord when He died on the cross. This is seen in the lives of two that our Lord met one day. He came onto them and asked, "What manner of communication are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" They stopped, their faces full of gloom, and one told Him about the crucifixion, and how they had hoped He'd redeem Israel. Then their eyes were opened, and all this darkness of doubt and despair was dissipated by the resurrection. Now everyone who takes hold of this living, loving Lord by faith is electrified by the life-giving Savior, and is given a living hope. That's what led D. L. Moody to say, "As I go to a cemetery I like to think of the time when the dead shall rise from their graves. Thank God, our Christian friends aren't buried. They're only sown. I like the Saxon name for cemetery - 'God's acre.'"

Now let's take a look at our inheritance. It's described in 1st Peter 1:4 as being "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." The word "inheritance" means "a settled and secure possession," and it refers to a place and a possession in heaven. Our inheritance is death-proof, for it's incorruptible. Thank God
"There'll never be crepe on the doorknob, no funeral train in the sky
No graves on the hillsides of glory, for there we shall nevermore die.
The old will be young there forever, transformed in a moment of time;
Immortal we'll stand in His likeness, the stars and the sun to outshine."
Our inheritance is dirt-proof, for it's undefiled. It's beyond the taint of sin and its sorrow, wickedness and its weariness, transgression and its trouble. Bless God
"There's no disappointment in heaven, no weariness, sorrow, or pain;
No hearts that are bleeding and broken, no song with a minor refrain.
The clouds of our earthly horizon will never appear in the sky,
For all will be sunshine and gladness, with never a sob nor a sigh."

Our inheritance is decay-proof, for it fadeth not away. On this earth the loveliest flower fades and the fairest blossom dies, but not in heaven. There nothing will ever decay, and it will always be day. And
"Well never pay rent for our mansion, the taxes will never come due;
Our garments will never grow threadbare, but always be fadeless and new;
We'll never be hungry nor thirsty, nor languish in poverty there,
For all the rich bounties of heaven His sanctified children will share."
Our inheritance is devil-proof. It's reserved in heaven for the believer. The word "reserved" means "to watch, to guard, to protect." So the Lord who is greater than the greatest, and stronger than the strongest is guarding our inheritance.
"I have a heritage of joy that yet I must not see.
The hand that bled to make it mine, is keeping it for me."

A wealthy man said to his clerk, "I've put your name in my will, and you'll get ten thousand dollars when I die. Now I'm in good health, and I don't intend to die soon. So I'll help in the meantime by paying you legal interest on the amount. Here's a check for $600 to pay for the first year's interest." This, but in a far higher sense, is our position. Day by day the Lord pays on the interest by providing grace for our trials, a solution for our problems, and supplies for our needs. Do you, my friend, have this hope and inheritance? You may - by coming to Christ now.

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

Message Four

2009-11-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:3

A miner went to Australia in search of gold. He labored a year but didn't find a nugget. Then he discovered one the size of a hen's egg. Thrilled with his fortune he showed it to his cook. He laughed, saying, "I have a piece that's so big that I use it for a chair." He went to see it, and found that it was genuine, and he bought it for 25 cents. That nugget, one of the largest ever discovered, meant nothing to one man, but everything to the other. And so it is with the Bible. To some it means nothing, but to others it means life with a capital L. Let's turn to 1st Peter 1:3 and think on the Living Hope.

Mark the praise. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." God, to this child of God, is real. He wasn't calling upon an unknown God, but a known God: the God who is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who loved him and gave Himself for him. When you praise or pray, are you conscious that you're talking to a real Redeemer, a living Lord? Is the Savior you profess to know a principle or a Person, a phantom or a Friend? Archibald Ruteledge ran onto an old fellow who lived alone in a solitary place. "Sam," he said, "you must get awfully lonely, being alone like this all the time." "Captain," he answered, "I miss all who have gone on, but I'm not alone." "Somebody comes to see you?" he asked. "Jesus doesn't just come to see me," he answered. "He's my Friend who stays with me all the time." Jesus was so real to him that he could sing,
"And He walks with me, and he talks with me, and He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known."

Mark the privilege. It's written in 1st Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy have begotten us." Living Letters renders that verse like this: "All honor to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His boundless mercy to us, so that we have been born again, and are now members of God's own family." Think of it, my friends, "members of God's own family." "Oh," you say, "how can I become a member of God's family?" By receiving Jesus. The Bible says, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." The words "as many" mean "whoever," thus you may, regardless of your color or condition, become a member of God's own family. This privilege isn't for a favored few, but for all who will "receive" Jesus. Now the word "receive" means "to receive to oneself." It's not merely a head experience, but a heart experience. It signifies the thought that's expressed in the verse, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…soul, and mind." It could be translated "welcomed." To receive Jesus means to "welcome" Him into your heart as you'd welcome a cherished friend into your home. As you welcome the Lord Jesus into your heart you're given something. What's that? The Bible answers, "the power to become the sons of God." That word "power" is sometimes translated "privilege." But it really means "out of being." So when you welcome Christ into your heart He imparts to you out of His being. That is, He gives you Himself. He gives you His nature and name, and he makes you a member of His own family.

As a man came out of the hotel, he saw a paperboy, and he said, "Paper, son." The boy said with tears, "I wish I were." "Were what?" asked the man. "Somebody's son," he answered. "You can become Somebody's son," said the kind man, "simply by receiving Jesus. Do it now, won't you?" He did, and he became God's son. Won't you?

Mark the promise. Our text reads, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Christ died for our sins, but He didn't stay dead. He was raised out from among the rest of the dead, and because He was, so will every Christian. So a Christian doesn't look at the grave, but at the glory that shall be his with God.

"This isn't death, it's glory! It isn't dark, it's light;
It isn't stumbling, groping, or even faith - it's sight.
"This isn't grief, it's having my last tear wiped away.
It's sunrise, it's the morning of my eternal day.
"Before I knew this rapture of meeting face to face,
The One who sought me, saved me, and kept me by His grace."

A lovely 16-year-old girl who had been converted on the mission field, and had lived a Christlike life before her parents who were pagans, took sick and died. Afterward her mother traveled a great distance to see the missionary. On meeting her face to face, she said, "What did you do to my daughter?" "We did nothing to her," answered the missionary. "Oh, yes, you did," insisted the mother. "She died smiling. Our people don't die like that." Oh, death to a Christian is gain. No wonder they're glad. Come to Christ, and hope, heaven and happiness will be yours.

Message Three

2009-10-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

The Book of First Peter: Message Three
By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

Years ago a ship was in distress on the high seas because the supply of fresh water had run out. The sailors were afraid, and each one cried desperately for water. Just as they were about to give up hope they sighted a ship in the distance. At once they signaled for water. The only answer they got was, "Dip it up." What heartless mockery! Dip up salt water? They signaled again. Back came the same answer. In despair, they did dip it up. To their happy surprise they discovered fresh water. They thought they were in the high seas, but they were at the mouth of the Amazon River. Are you in the same boat? Does life all around you seem dull, disappointing and despairing? Are you about to give in to hopeless hopelessness? Don't! God's grace and peace are around you. All you need to do is to draw on Him.

"Grace," you ask, "what's grace?" Grace is an attribute of God. He declares in Exodus 22:27, "I am gracious." That's why Peter called Him, in 1st Peter 5:10, "the God of all grace." Now the word "grace" in classical Greek referred to a favor conferred freely, but only to a friend, never to a foe. But that's not the case with the grace of God. It's written in 1st John 3:1, "Behold, what manner of love the Father bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God." The expression, "what manner of" means "what foreign kind of." The love of God shown by Christ on the cross is foreign to the human race. Man doesn't act like that. But God does. For Christ died not only for His friends, but also His foes. The Bible says, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

A chaplain went into a government hospital to speak to a dying soldier. He was arrogant and angry, and he asked the chaplain to leave. He stayed out of his room for several days, then one morning he came in, bringing beautiful flowers. Weeping, the soldier said, "Thank you, sir, I'm fond of flowers." "Yes," answered the chaplain, "God knew we'd have days of suffering and sorrow, so He gave us such beautiful things as these flowers to brighten our way." The dying man was silent for a moment, and then he said, "Chaplain, I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I know I ought to trust God. But I'm such a wretched sinner that I can't believe God could forgive me. I'm guilty of every wicked thing a man could do. If you wrote a list of all my sins on the wall, not an inch of space would be left." Answered the chaplain, "Go ahead, write your sins on the wall. Write all of them. Write until the wall becomes a catalog of your vile sins. Then over all of them I'll write in flaming letters one sentence from God's word, and by it all your sins will be canceled. This is the sentence - 'the blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanseth us from all sin.'" That day the dying man was saved by the grace of God. But grace is also an aid of God. Our Lord says, "My grace is sufficient for thee." God's grace will never give out. That's why we're encouraged to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." In speaking on this verse, Dr. Morgan said, "I'm never tired of pointing out that the Greek phrase translated, 'in time of need,' means 'in the nick of time.'" Thus you may have grace to help in the nick of time. You're troubled, you're tempted, you're tossed; and at that moment of assault you look to Him, and you'll find God's grace is there to help you "in the nick of time." Just when and where you need it.

"My grace is sufficient, O lost one! Thy soul to redeem from its woe,
To give you a perfect salvation, to keep you wherever you go.
"My grace is sufficient, O tried one! To meet every testing and need;
Whatever may be the requirement, my grace is sufficient indeed."

The grace of God not only brings you pardon and power, but also peace. For pardon from sin brings peace within. First there's peace with God, and then there's the peace of God. The Bible says, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." When you do this, then "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds thru Christ Jesus." A woman phoned Dr. Wilson for an appointment. After checking her, he said, "You have cancer. I'm sorry to tell you, but it's a fast growing cancer, and you don't have many more weeks to live." She said, as she looked to heaven, "Lord Jesus, You're the Great Physician. I thank you for letting me have this cancer. You're so wonderful to me. I thought I was going to have to live to be an old woman before I saw You. Now I'm going to see You soon. I'm so glad . . . You died for me. I want to see You and tell You I love You for it. I want to fall at your feet and worship and adore You." She had the peace of God. Do you have the peace of God? Accept His pardon, believe His word and you'll enjoy His peace.

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.

Message Two

2009-10-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:2

He didn't have a degree or a diploma, but he was a devoted disciple of the Lord. One day he came onto a group of doctors of divinity who were discussing the of election, and one asked him to explain it. doctrine "Brethren," he said, "it's like this. The Lord is always voting for a man, and the devil is always voting against him. Then the man himself votes, and that breaks the whom have you voted - the Lord? Let's tie." For think on this as we turn 1st Peter 1:2.

Note the selection. It's written, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." The word "elect" means "to select." In Ephesians 1:4 the verb is rendered "chosen." There it's written, "He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." Think of it! Before there was the sun or a star, before He made the world, God put a circle around you and me and every believer, and He chose us to be His very own.

"Chosen not for good in me; wakened up from wrath to flee;
Hidden in the Savior's side: by the Spirit sanctified:
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show, by my love, how much I owe."

"But," you say, "I'm not saved. Can it be that I've not been selected to be saved?" Oh, no. The Lord has never elected anyone to be lost. His message to everyone is, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And He adds, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." If you die in your sins, if you perish, it's because you've chosen to do so. It was D. L. Moody who said, "Many men fold their arms and say, 'If I'm one of the elect I shall be saved, and if I'm not, I shan't. No use bothering about it.' I have an idea that the Lord saw how men were going to stumble over this doctrine of election, so after He had been in heaven 30 or 40 years He spoke to John. One Lord's day He said to him, 'Write these things to the churches.' He kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when it was nearly finished, said, 'John, before you close the last book of the Bible, put in one more invitation. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.'"

Note the sanctification. Our text reads, "thru sanctification of the Spirit." The word "sanctification" means "to set apart." The sanctification by the Holy Spirit is that work which separates a sinner from his sins, and sets him apart for salvation. One day her husband aired a tape of THE SOWER on his station. As she listened, she thought of her wickedness and became wretched. She couldn't eat or rest. Everything went wrong. She tried to keep her mind on her home, but she found herself thinking about heaven and hell, and her sins, and they became exceedingly sinful. What was happening? The Spirit of God was setting her apart for salvation. Finally she could stand it no longer. It seemed as if her heart would break. So she got into her car and drove to our studio. I opened the door and found her weeping. She said, "I want to be saved." After reading Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in," she cried, "Dear Jesus, I open the door of my heart. Please cone in." He did, and she became a Christian. Oh, what peace and joy came to her heart and face as she was obedient to the faith.

Note the sprinkling. 1st Peter 1:2 reads, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." According to this verse there are three steps taken by the three Persons of the Triune God in saving a soul. First, God the Father chooses the sinner to salvation. Second, God the Spirit brings the sinner to the Savior. Third, God the Son cleanses the sinner by His blood. Have you been cleansed from your sins? Wouldn't you like to be? Then come to the Savior. You go to the clothier for clothes, you go to the shoe store for shoes, you go to the furniture store for furniture, you go to the lumber yard for lumber, you go to the sea for fish, you go to the fruit tree for fruit. Now why don't you be as wise and go to the Lord Jesus for the cleansing of your sins? Just as a dirty garment can't cleanse itself, neither can you cleanse your sins. Just as your diseased lung can't make itself whole, neither can you. Only that which is pure can cleanse. Only the Savior can save.

"But," you ask, "how can I know I've been chosen to be saved?" Come to Christ. Admit that you have sinned and that you can't save your soul. Accept the Savior who suffered for your sins. Then God will save you. By so doing you'll find that God chose you for salvation, the Holy Spirit brought you to the act of faith, and the Son cleansed you from all your sins. An old minister of the Gospel, near the end of his course, giving his last public testimony, said, "I fled from my wickedness, I cast aside my good works, and now my soul is resting on the blood of Christ. Here alone is my salvation and rest."

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.

Message One

2009-10-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:1

A man walked into a church and said to the pastor, "I'd like to shake hands with you, but there's no hope for me now, for I've gone so far. Even my mother doesn't believe in me." Looking at him and longing to help him, Dr. Morgan said, "That's indeed a terrible story, but I know Someone Who does believe in you, and He believes in you because He's able to make you what you're not." There was another who was weak. No one believed in him, but his brother and the Lord. His brother brought him to the Lord, and from that moment He never let go of him. Even when it seemed that he had made shipwreck of his life, our Lord prayed for him that his faith wouldn't fail, and his faith didn't fail. His name? Peter. He wrote one of the most charming and comforting books of the Bible. We'll study that book on this broadcast.

The book of Peter opens with his name, that is, the name the Lord gave him. It all happened like this. Andrew, his brother, heard John the Baptist say, "Behold the Lamb of God." Repenting, and questing, Andrew turned and followed Jesus. No one can truly follow Him without finding another to bring to Him. So the first thing he did was to find his brother Simon. He told him, "We have found the Christ." And he brought him to Jesus. He looked steadily at him, and said, "You are Simon, the son of John. From now on your name is Cephas, that is, Peter, meaning a rock." The word "rock" in this verse means "a detached but large fragment of rock." Now the foundation of the Church is that large and living Rock, the Son of God. And Peter was just a fragment of that massive rock. Thus, as Simon, weak and wishy-washy, he let go and let God have His way, and he was transformed into Peter, the rock-man! And that He'll do for you.
In the book that bears his name, Peter called himself "an apostle." That word means "to send." It was used of one who was sent on a mission. That's what Peter was, an Ambassador of the Lord. And so are you, if you're saved. You and I are sent ones. Our Lord said, "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." Why was He sent? He answers, "to seek and to save the lost." Now let's put the verses together. "As My Father hath sent Me, to seek and to save the lost; even so send I you, to seek and to save the lost."

Some time ago I read a fable of an elephant that was taking a walk in the jungle. A fly came to him and said, "Kind elephant, I'm little, and you're big. Will you give me a ride?" "With pleasure," he answered, and he walked on with the fly on his back. He didn't get far until a mouse said, "Kind elephant, I'm not much bigger than the fly. Won't you give me a ride?" "With pleasure," he answered, and the mouse ran up his trunk. He walked a short distance and met a turtle who said, "Kind elephant, I'm sure you'll be glad to give me a ride." "You're welcome," said the elephant, and up he went. In the same way, as he went along, he picked up one and another until he had a very big load. Thus burdened, he met a tiger who said, "Kind elephant, you're big, and I'm much smaller. Surely you'll give me a lift." "I can't," said the elephant, "I have more than I can carry. I can't walk another step." "Good," said the tiger, "this is just the moment I've been waiting for." Whereupon he leaped upon the great animal and destroyed him. Many a Christian and many a church can learn a lesson from this fable. So many have become so burdened with material delights and duties that they go down in defeat. Let it not be forgotten that it's the business of every believer and the commission of every church to bring the lost to the Lord. There's no greater mission than that of bringing the lost to the Lord. And there's no greater sin than keeping a soul from the Lord.

It's written in 1st Peter 1:1, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers." That word, "strangers" is made up of several words, as "alongside," and "upon." "It's used in Biblical Greek," said Dr. Wuest, "of the people of a heathen city. The word here describes the recipients of this letter as Christians who have settled down alongside of the unsaved." You're living, my friends, alongside of folk who are unsaved. They're observing you. What do they see? One afternoon a woman took some scouts on a hike. Her miraculous medal, which she always wore, was hanging visible outside her uniform. A little girl hurried over to her and said, "Pardon me, ma'am, but your religion is showing." Is your religion showing? Can others see Christ in you? A Hindu student told Billy Graham, "I'd become a Christian if I could see one." Said Graham, "And when he said that, he was looking at me. That was one of the greatest sermons ever preached to me." Let's be like Jesus!

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.