The Tupelo journal., 1912-01-12
INTERNATIONAL !
NNDANS01OOL
LESSON
Nv Rev, William Evans, ID. d., Director Biblo Course
Anndu Rihla Insfiiuia. GhicaQu.-
FOR JANUARY
BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

LESSON TEXT-Luke 1870.
MEMORY V~ERSES-67-69, or rs, n.
GOLDEN TEXT-'Blessed be the Lord
God of Israel, for He hath visited and
redeemed his people."-Luke 1:66.
Another fulfilled prophecy added to
last weeks lesson. Hath God said.
and shall he not do it?" Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but n ,jot or
title Of his promises shall never fail.
Strange that God should remember his
promise to a single individual amidst
the infinite multitude Of the sons OF
men! Yet he does. He marks the
fall of a sparrow. And so according to
Gods promise, the child was born.
At the proper time, the child was
dedicated to God in the temple. These
righteous parents recognized that the
child was Gods gift. All Cody parents
should. Do we? Have we presented
u children in dedication to the Lord
in the church? The first place these
parents took their child was to church.
Is this true Of US?
The naming of the child Is interest.
ing. John means, gracious gift OF
God" Zacharias thought of God In
naming the child. What did you think
of when you named your child? Did
you give it a Christian name, or call
ed it after some heather, goddess nov.
eiist? Does the name stand for any
thing? Is it an inspiration to the child?
Does it express your hope and faith
in God?
There are times when, in order to
please God, we must differ with our
friends. So it happened In the naming
Of John. Out Of respect for Zacharias,
and because of his advanced age, and
knowing that he had no other child.
his friends proposed naming the child
after him, probably to perpetuate the
family name. But already God had
announced the name. The angel sale
that the child's name should be John.
These godly parents stood fast by the
Word Of God, irrespective Of the opin'
ion Of even well-meaning friends.
A striking question was asked:
"What manner of child shall this be-"
What strange thoughts must have been
passing through the minds Of those
parents at this time as they recalled
the angels message and the predicted
future of this child! AS Zazharias
looked into the unconscious face Of
his child he saw the prophet of the
Most High.
Parents, what possibilities do you
see in your child as you look into its
face? That little life is for you to
mold. To some extend you can tell
what manner of child he is to be.
Teacher, what do you see in the child?
Just a bundle of nerves to be kept
quiet, or the possibilities of a great
life?
Zacharias' son is full of victorious
and prophetic hope; it is itself a full
fllment of a prophecy; God hath Wis
tied his people. For over 1000 years
the righteous in Israel had looked for
ward to the fulfllment of this proph-
ecy.
The advent of this child brought joy,
not only to Zacharias and his wife,
but to their neighbors.
The birth of this child brought forth
this hymn of praise to God for his
goodness. Did you ever thank God
for your children? Who gave them to
you? Children are the heritage of
the Lord. How much would you take
for them? All the wealth in the world
could not buy them. Nor are you ask
ed to sell them; but you are asked to
think of the One who gave them to
you. There are your children: Can
born blind; can they hear, when SO
many have been born deaf; can they
romp, when so many have been born
lame; can they speak, when SO many
have been born dumb! Oh We par
ents who have sweet children on earth
and it may be in heaven-does not
their presence cause you to burst out
in praise to God!
Another thing that led to this song
of praise was the fact that Zacharias
was filed with the Spirit. Joy and
gladness are always associated with
the Spirit: "Be filed with the Spirit;
speaking to yourselves in spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord" The Spirit
filled man is the happy man. Are you
"a happy Christian? If no, why not?
What a description we have in the
song of Zacharias of the %deliverance
which Christ brings to every soul that
trusts him: Deliverance from Satan,
from death, from sin, from the world,
from every enemy; a protection and
covering from the righteous vengeance
of God; freedom from the conse-
quences of sin; the wonderful promise
that some day-even now in a measure
we shall serve God with true holt
ness and righteousness in Joy and
buessing for evermore.
The song Of Zacharias gives us q
model for our hymns and spiritual
songs.
The most prominent note in this
song Is salvation: From Jul enemies,