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We verify a recently proposed method for obtaining a $\beta$-function of ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theories regularized by higher derivatives by an explicit calculation. According to this method, a $\beta$-function can be found by calculating specially modified vacuum supergraphs instead of a much larger number of the two-point superdiagrams. The result is produced in the form of a certain integral of double total derivatives with respect to the loop momenta. Here we compare the results obtained for the three-loop $\beta$-function of ${\cal N}=1$ SQED in the general $\xi$-gauge with the help of this method and with the help of the standard calculation. Their coincidence confirms the correctness of the new method and the general argumentation used for its derivation. Also we verify that in the considered approximation the NSVZ relation is valid for the renormalization group functions defined in terms of the bare coupling constant and for the ones defined in terms of the renormalized coupling constant in the HD+MSL scheme, both its sides being gauge-independent., Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures; title changed, minor corrections; the final version to appear in Nuclear Physics B