The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1912-01-05

impossible TO please God '-licb. n.6.
The Old Testament closes with a.
prophecy; the New Testament opens
with the announcement Of the fulfill
ment Of that prophecy. Thus both
Testaments are characterized In this
lesson: The Testament. prophecy:
the New Testament. fulfillment. II
10 clear from our Lords own words
that John the Baptist fulfilled this Old
Testament prediction, MAT. II: 10.
1877. II may be that a more literal
fulfillmcnt isc still future. proceeding
Christs second inning.
Our attention Is first drawn to the
persons through whom God fulflls his
promise. Zacharias and Elizabeth
were both righteous. Ivy that In not
or perfect--no human being IL that
but that they were parents whose
whole heart, mind, and strength were
dedicated TO the will and service OF
God. Zacharias' unbelicf shows that
he was not sinless.
This is the kind of people through
whom God is willing. and ready even
today to fulfi; his promise and bless
the world-not through perfect PEG.
pie, but through those Who are con.
stantiy striving after perfection.
There II nc limit 10 the blessings God
will confer upon the world through
Us " only we will not touch the glory.
The glorious vision and message
came 10 John when he was perform.
Ing his duty. And 40 II In always.
While shepherds watch their focks
the angel comes. We must not for.
humble seclusion was used to bless
the world just NJ much as Zacharias
who was exercising "A priestly junction
% high that the opportunity came Ia
. priest but once In n lifetime. God
chooses the weak things AZ vel, ~
the great things: d. l. Moody. the un'
educated shoe clerk. as we'll ~ Paul,
the scholar. SO Isaac was . quiet
man and dwelt In tents.
The next thing to which our atten.
ton Ia the content Of the prophecy
First, II concerns child. Xachariaf
and Elisabeth were childless. II IL
no sin 10 be childless prov ded that nc
Law OF nature 10 violated. II 10 \ sac
thing 70 be childless. A. least Il wal
- considered In Old Testament days
Would that II were considered % to
l day! A revival Of the mother instinct
10 needed.
This child was to be an extraordin
airy ehild-well every mothers child
Ia wvnderful! This child WAS 10 &c
before the Lord and prepare his way
Just ~ your child may follow after the
Lord and walk In his steps--a worthy
career for both John and your child
and every child. Why should We no,
holA this ideal constantly before
childhood?
Upon the promised child was TO res,
the vow OF the Nazarite. That meant
two things: Absolute prohibition
from intoxicants. and entire dedica
ti0n to God. Can you think Of any
two things more desirable for your
child. for every child? These par
ents had an ideal before them fol
their child. and that was q tremend
Gus help. Have you? or do you
bring your child up al random? Start
today with an ideal. Let Il be high
let II be the highest. even Christ.
The mission Of John, the Baptist
Holy Spirit. Is there not a subtle
contrast here between the prohibition
Of intoxication and the flling with
the spirit? Just as the person under
the influence OF intoxicating liquor IL
governed and controlled by such spir
It's. SO the Christian worker Ia to be
come so fulfilled with the spirit that
every part OF him--intellect. sensible
ties, will. feelings. are under the
spirits control. This spiritual equip
ment IL what Is needed for Christian
workers today.
Because the Baptist was spirit-fll
ed, he was enabled to turn the hearts
Of the children towards their fathers
Doubtless the Jews had become faint
ed with the idolatry Of the surround
Ing nations 80 that they had to some
extent forsaken the faith Of the pa
triarchs.
Every Christian has the Holy Spir
II, Just as Egypt has the river Nile
but every Christian does not have the
fullness Of the Spirit, any more than
Egypt always has the overflow Of the
Nile; and Just as the overflow Of the
Nile means bountiful harvest Il
Egypt. 30 the milling and overflow
ing Of the spirit In the believer means
a bountiful harvest Of fruit unto eter
nal life.
It 10 strange. IL It not, that Zachar,
las should doubt In the presence Of
this heavenly visitor! Surely one
should believe In the presence Of such
. sign ~ this. There are people to-
day who say that they would believe
II they could hear . voice from the
other shore speaking to them. or Il
one should come to them from the