The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-01-05


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, fultillment. ut
is clear from our Lords own words
that John the Baptist fulfilled this Old
Testament prediction, MAT. II: TO-
49,. 1t may be that more literal
fulfllment isc still future, proceeding
Christ's second inning.
Our attention is first drawn. to the
persons through whom God fulflls his
promise. zacharias and Elizabeth
were both righteous. BY that is not
meant that they were either slnless
or perfect--no human being is that
but that they were parents whose
whole heart, mind, and strength were
dedicated to the will and service of
God. Zacharias' unbelief shows that
he was not sinless.
This is the kind of people through
whom God is willing, and ready even
today to fulfill his promise and bless
the world-not through perfect pep
pie, but through those who are con-
stantly striving after perfection.
There is no limit to the blessings God
will confer upon the world through
us If only we will not touch the glory.
The glorious vision and message
came to John when he was perform
ing his duty. And so 1t Is always.
While shepherds watch their focks
the angel comes. We must not for
get that Elizabeth also In her modest,
humble seclusion was used to bless
the world just as much as Zacharias
who was exercising a priestly function
so high that the opportunity came to
a priest but once in lifetime. God
chooses the weak things as well as
the great things: D. L. Moody, the UNI
educated shoe clerk, as well as Paul,
the scholar So Isaac was quiet
man and dwelt in tents.
The next thing to which our atten-
tion is the content of the prophecy.
First, 1t concerns a child. zacharias
and Elizabeth were childless. 1t is
no sin to be childless provided that no
law of nature is violated. 1t is a sad
thing to be childless. AT least 1t was
so considered in Old Testament days.
Would that 1t were considered so to-
day! A revival Of the mother instinct
Is needed.
This child was to be an extraordin-
airy child--well every mothers child
is wonderful! This child was to go
before the Lord and prepare his way,
just as 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 not
hold this ideal constantly before
childhood?
Upon the promised child was to rest
the vow of the Nazarite, That meant
two things: Absolute prohibition
from intoxicants and entire dedica-
ton 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 for
their child, and that was tremend-
GUS help. Have you? Or do you
bring your child up at random? Start
today with an ideal Let 1t be high;
let 1t be the highest, even Christ.
The mission of John, the Baptist,
was to be performed by the aid of the
Holy Spirit. Is there not subtle
contrast here between the prohibition
of intoxlcation and the filling with
the spirit? Just as the person under
the Influence of Intoxicating liquor is
governed and controlled by such spir-
its. so the Christian worker is to be-
come so fulfilled with the spirit that
every part of him-lntellect, sensibili-
ties, will, feelings, are under the
spirits control This spiritual equip
ment is what is needed for Christian
workers today.
Because the Baptist was spiritfill-
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 so that they had to some
extent forsaken the faith of the pa
triarchs.
Every Christian has the Holy Spir-
1t, 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 to
Egypt, so the milling and overflow
ing Of the spirit in the believer means
a bountiful harvest of fruit unto eter-
nal life.
1t is strange, Is it not, that Zachar-
las should doubt in the presence of
this heavenly visitorl Surely one
should believe In the presence of such
sign as 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
other life. Did the Jews believe even
though Lazarus came back to them
from the dead? No. II we believe