The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-09-28
LESSON FOR OCTOBER |
BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

LESSON TENT-G.ul,. I.G-.5. 5i-G5
GOLDEN ILNT-Ue shall be great tu
the = eIt Of the I.lrt aud be- shall arius
no wine nor strong drink Luke ms.
REFERENCE MArEHIAIs-lsa. - So
Nil 80
PRIMARY TOPIC-An ANGEL Bhrgs
Good News
JUNIOR TuPIC-The Birth OF John the
Baptist.
INTERN FpI ATE ANp SENIOR TOPIC
-Preuaratlon for tie Coming of christ
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Place and Work OF John the hap-
fist
We are today entering upon six
months course of study in the Gospel
Jesus the Worlds savior" Today's
lesson concerns the birth of John tie
Baptist. the forerunner Of Christ
I. The Parents Of John the Baptist
wv. -.
/. When They Lived ". 81, "ln 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 u time
when II was not so easy to be cody.
2. Their Character ". 90. They
were righteous before God. To he
righteous before God is a high tribute.
Many appear to be righteous before
men who are not righteous before God.
Their lives were so mated that tley
walked In the commandments Of the
Lord blameless How beautiful II Is
when husband and wife are united IN
the Lord and walk together In fellow
ship with God.
8. They Were Chlldless ". -.
Though this godly couple were well
mated and they possessed the JOY Of
the Lord in their souls. there was
real lack in that home.
u. The Birth Of John Promised wv.
SID.
/. BY Whom ". IL; Ct. v. l9). 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. $40. While officiat-
ing as priest this good news came TO
him. Zacharias must have been def
niteiy praying about this very matter
". 13). As he burned incense, which
typified prayer. the multitude without
were praying.
8. characteristics Of the Child wv.
I5lD. % Shall be great In the sight
Of the Lord w. 49,. Though the
people did not greatly esteem him he
was highly esteemed by the Lord. This
Is infinitely better than II he had been
greatly esteemed in the eyes Of men
or In his own eyes This Is the esteem
for which we all should long and pray.
(2) Shall drink neither wine nor
strong drink ". l5). The child shall
become a Nazarlte, separating him
self from the sensuous things and ded-
icating himself To the service OF the
Lord. go BE filled with the Holy
Ghost w. 49,. The energy Of the d.
vine Spirit would enable him 10 lead
the people 10 repentance ". l6).
ca Shall go IN the spirit and power
OF Elijah w. ~. In this power he
was 10 prepare the people for the
coming Of the Savior and the saliva
tion which He was To bring
~. Zaehariss Asking for Sign
wv. 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 10 believe that that for which
he fondly hoped and prayed would be
realized. The angel gave Zacharlas a
sign lie was smitten with dumbness
which was 10 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.