The Tupelo journal., 1912-01-05

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The Old Testament closes with .
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, fulfllment. 1t
is clear from our Lords own words
that John the Baptist fulfilled this Old
Testament prediction, (Mat. II: 10
13). It may be that a more literal
fulfllment isc still future, preceding
Christ's second inning.
Our attention Ia 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 sinless
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 peo-
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 it is always.
While shepherds watch their flocks
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 a lifetime. God
chooses the weak things as well as
the great things: D. L. Moody, the I'M
educated shoe clerk, as we'll as Paul,
the scholar. So Isaac was a quiet
man and dwelt in tents.
The next thing to which our atten-
ton is the content of the prophecy.
First, it 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 it was
so considered in Old Testament days.
Would that it 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 a tremend-
GUS help. Have you? Or do you
bring your child up at random? Start
today with an ideal. Let it be high;
let it be the highest, ever Christ.
The mission Of John, the Baptist.
was to be performed by the aid of the
Holy Spirit. Is there not a subtle
contrast here between the prohibition
of intoxication 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 BET
come so fulfilled with the spirit that
every part of him-intellect, 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 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 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 a 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 1t not, that Zachar-
las should doubt in the presence OF
this heavenly visitor! Surely one
should believe In the presence OF such
a sign as this. There are people to-
day who say that they would believe
IL they could hear q voice from the
other shore speaking to them. or II
one should come to them from the
other life. Did the Jews believe even
though Lazarus came back to them
from the dead? Mo- II We believe