McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1922-09-29

| HOLDEN TEAT-He snail De great In
the sight Of the Lord, and he shall drink
no wine nor strong drink.-Luke Ills.
REFERENCE MATERIAL.-Isa. 4O:3-s:
| NAL 4:4-6.
PRIMARY TOPICAL Angel Brings
| Good News.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Birth of John the
Baptist.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
Preparation for the Coming of Christ
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Place and Work OF John the Bap-
! list.
We are today entering upon a six
months course Of study In the Gospel
Of Luke, whose general subject Is
Jesus the Worlds Savior" Today's
lesson concerns the birth of John the
Baptist, the forerunner of Christ.
!. The Parents Of John the Baptist
wv. SD.
/. When They Lived ". 81. "In the
days of Herod the King" They lived
in day when ungodliness was rife.
The priesthood was very corrupt and
the ruling classes were wicked. Zach
arias and his wife lived In a time
when 1t was not so easy to be godly.
2. Their Character ". g.. They
were righteous before God. To be
righteous before God is high tribute.
Many appear to be righteous before
men who are not righteous before God.
Their lives were so mated that they
walked in the commandments Of the
Lord blameless. How beautiful 1t Is
when husband and wife are united in
the Lord and walk together In fellow
ship with God. The highest In welded
life can only be attained when both
are united In Jesus Christ. Their prac-
teal living was manifested in obedi-
ence to Gods commands.
3. They Were Chlldless ". y.
Though this cody couple were well
mated and they possessed the Joy of
the Lord in their souls, there was
real lack In that home. No home is
quite ideal into which no child has
come to gladden. the hearts of the hus-
band and wife.
II. The Birth Of John Promised wv.
SID.
1. By Whom ". II; CT. v. 19). The
angel Gabriel appeared and made
known the good news to Zacharias.
This exalted being, the special mes
senger of God, was sent to make this
disclosure.
2. When wv. S-14. While officiat-
Ing as priest this good news came to
him. Zacharias must have been def
nitely praying about this very matter
". 1877. AS he burned incense, which
typified prayer, the multitude without
were praying.
8. Characteristics of the Child wv.
15-1D. (1) Shall be great in the sight
of the Lord ". 49,. Though the
people did not greatly esteem him he
was highly esteemed by the Lord. This
is infinitely better than If he had been
greatly esteemed in the eyes Of men
for which we all should long and pray.
~ Shall drink neither wine nor
strong drink ". 15). The child shall
become Nazarite, separating him
self from the sensuous things and ded-
icating himself to the service of the
Lord. go Be filled with the Holy
Ghost ". 15). The energy Of the d.
vine Spirit would enable him to lead
the people to repentance ". 16).
(4 Shall go In the spirit and power
Of Elijah ". ~. In this power he
was to prepare the people for the
coming of the Savior and the saliva
ton which He was to bring.
III. zaeharlas Asking for a Sign
(vv. 1929.
Although the aged priest was ear
nestly praying for the salvation Of
Israel the gracious promise OF the
angel, which was the beginning Of that
salvation, staggered his faith. He was
unable to believe that that for which
he fondly hoped and prayed would be
realized. The angel gave Zacharias a
sign. He was smitten with dumbness
which was to continue until the full
fillment Of the promise. Because he
refused to praise God In faith for this
gracious promise God caused his
tongue to be silent until the promise
was fulfilled and his lips could open
In thanksgiving and praise. Though |
he was thus rebuked, at the same time
his faith was strengthened by the
manifestation of the supernatural. |
God wants us TO trust Him, to believe
his promises, no matter how contrary
to reason they may seem.
w. The Promise Fulfilled wv. 81
es).
When the time came for the birth
of John, Elizabeth brought forth son
and the neighbors rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they eircumcized
the child and gave him a name accord
ing to the instruction of the angel
". 49,. The name John was contrary
to the family custom. BY means OF
writing Zacharias made known the
name which he would have by divine
instruction. At this time God opened
the mouth of Zacharias and he offered
0rolaa |