Middletown transcript., 1922-09-30
LESSON FOR OCTOBER !
eiRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

ISESStJN IEAl-lIuhe l.o--o, oi-oo
GOLDEN TEXT-He shall be great in
the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink
no wine nor strong drir.k.-Luke l15.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Isa. 4o:3-6;
NAL 4:4-6.
PRIMARY ToPIC-An Angel Brings
Good News. q
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Birth of John the
Baptist.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Preparation for the Coming of Christ
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Place and Work of John the Bap-
tist.
We are today entering upon 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.
1. When They Lived ". 81. ''In the
DAYS of Herod the King" They lived
in q day when ungodliness was rife.
| The priesthood was very corrupt and
| the ruling classes were wicked. Zach
arias and his wife lived in time
when it was not so easy to be godly.
2. Their Character ". 6). 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 We're so mated that they
walked in the commandments of the
Lord blameesS How beautiful it 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-
cnce to Gods commands.
3. They Were Childless ". y.
Though this godly couple were well
mated and they possessed the JOY OF
the Lord in their souls, there was n
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.
SD.
/. BY Whom ". II; cf. V. 19). The
angel Gabriel appeared and made
known the good news to Iacharias.
This exalted being, the special mes
senger of God, was sent to make this
disclosure.
.. When wv. SID. While officiat-
ing as priest this good news came tc
him. Zacharias must have been def
nitely praying about this very matter
(v. 49, AS he burned incense, which
typified prayer, the multitude without
were praying.
g. characteristics of the Child wv
IBID. % Shall be great in the sight
: of the Lord ". l5). Though the
, people did not greatly esteem him ht
, was highly esteemed by the Lord. Thi'
Is infinitely better than if he had beer
greatly esteemed in the eyes of mel
or in his own eyes. This is the esteem
I for which we all should long and pray
+ (2) Shall drink neither wine no
I strong drink (v. 15). The child shal
| become Nazarite separating him
I self from the SenSuous things and ded
4 icatng himself to the service of tn
p Lord (3) Be filled with the Ilol
n Ghost ". 10. The energy of the d
Y vine Spirit would enable him to lea'
the people to repentance ". 16)
d (4) Shall go in the spirit and powe
II of Elijah ". 1O. In this power h
\ was to prepare the people for III
coming of the Savior and the saliva
g ton which He was TO bring.
j III. Zacharias Asking for Sig
wv. 1929.
Although the aged priest was ea'
nestly praying for the salvation {
Israel the gracious promise of tn
angel, which was the beginning of thi
salvation. staggered his faith. He wa
unable to believe that that for whic
he fondly hoped and prayed would /
realized The angel gave Zacharins
sign. He was smitten VII dumbnc:
which was to continue until the fu
fillment of the promise. Because /
refused to praise God in faith for tn
gracious promise God caused h
tongue to be silent until the promi:
was fulfilled and his lips could opt
he was thus rebuked, at the same tin
his faith was strengthened by Il
manifestation of the supernaturi
God wants us to trust Him, to belize
his promises, no matter how contra
to reason they may seem.
". The Promise Fulfilled (vv. !
63).
When the time came for the bir
of John, Elizabeth brought forth s.
and the neighbors rejoiced with III
On the eighth day they circumciz
the child and gave him Il name accor
ing to the instruction of the anl
". 13). The name John was contra
to the family custom. BY means
- writing Zacharias made known t
name which he would have by divi
instruction. At this time God open